2. Purpose and Scope

If the case of products purchased outside of Quebec that bear a reserved designation on their packaging and are sold in Quebec without prior certification by an accrediting body or by one recognized as being the equivalent, the Act Respecting Reserved Designations and Value-Added Claims(Loi sur les appellations réservées et les termes valorisants) authorizes the CARTV, through its Supervision Program, to demand any organic seller to make sure that all noncompliant products meet the law requirements before being marketed. Otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted against the party responsible for the initial marketing of those products in Quebec.

2.1 "Organic" Designation

The "organic" designation was officially reserved by the government of Quebec and made effective February 1, 2000. In order to be sold in Quebec with complete legality, all products purchased outside of Quebec mentioning "organic" on their packaging, be it on one of the panels or simply on the list of ingredients, must be certified by a body whose name appears on the product's packaging and on commercial documents associated with it. The following products were included in the reserved designation decreed :

2.1.1 Products bearing a reference to the organic production mode and that are required to meet these standards

1. Products contributing to a production system:
   • manufactured inputs destined to organic agriculture
   • various services (packaging, labeling, slaughtering, transport, landscaping, etc)
2. Agricultural products and foodstuff intended for human or animal consumption:
   • plant products (including greenhouse crops and nurseries)
   • products harvested in the wild
   • products originating from animals (and derivative products)
   • beekeeping products
   • maple products
   • aquaculture products
   • prepared products resulting from processing and packaging of organic ingredients (also including food additives)
3. Products neither agricultural nor foodstuff in nature, but containing organic ingredients:
   • ingredients contained in cosmetic and personal care products

2.1.2 Products bearing a reference to organic production modes but that have yet to be subjected to standards.

The following product categories might be subjected to requirements that will later be added to the CARTV's organic reference standards:

• products served in food service outlets
• land set up to be used for special purposes

2.1.3 Products not covered by the decree concerning reserved designations:

1. Agricultural products and foodstuff: upland wild game
   • seafood (wild fish and algae)
   • forest products
2. Products neither agricultural nor foodstuff but that contain organic ingredients:
   • manufactured products containing ingredients originating from agriculture (e.g.. candles, pillowcases, etc.)
   • products made from processed plant fibers (bed sheets, clothing, towels, etc.)
   • products originating from forestry products (fine paper, etc.)

2.2 Other Agri-food Designations

For any other designations coming into effect at a later date, certification will be mandatory for both domestic products and products purchased outside of Quebec. In each case, for those bodies certifying products originating from outside of Quebec, a reasonable deadline will be set; before which they must obtain accreditation or a recognition certificate issued by the CARTV.