Certification

What is the meaning of "certified organic"?

When a product is "certified organic," this means it was grown according to the Quebec Organic Reference Standard or according to standards judged equivalent to those of Quebec. In addition, the application of these standards has been monitored by a certifying body approved by the CARTV.

What is certification?

Certification is an administrative procedure through which certifying bodies provide a written guarantee that foods or food control systems have complied with requirements established by the law.

Can I rely on certification?

You may rely on certification because it is a procedure subjected to very strict supervision. This actually implies an entire series of control measures, such as production site inspections, quality assurance audit systems, examinations of accounting records and, eventually, physicochemical analyses of finished products.

I am a producer and I would like to obtain organic certification. To whom should I apply?

In order to obtain organic certification, you must submit your request to one of the certifying bodies accredited by the CARTV.

When a firm has obtained certification, for how long will it be valid?

Certification is generally renewed annually. It may happen however that a certifying body has been suspended or withdrawn, should circumstances require. Some certifying bodies issue a lifetime certification to their clients and then supply a transaction certificate for product batches when their clients wish to sell part of all of their production.

Do I need to reapply for certification each year?

No. Your certifying body would normally send out a reminder letting you know you should think about preserving your status. If you have not received this reminder, please contact your certifier before your certificate reaches its expiry date.

What is a certifying body?

An organization that meets certain criteria such as independence, impartiality, effectiveness and competency, as required by international standards contained in the ISO Guide 65.

What is the role of a certifying body?

Its role is to draft a set of standards that will be representative of all interests inherent in the certification process; to verify products targeted by a certification request, in accordance with certification specifications; and finally to issue a certificate accompanied with an authorization for the use of the certification mark.

How does a certifying body obtain its CARTV-accredited certifier status?

First of all a firm must submit a request for accreditation to the Conseil des appellations réservées et des termes valorisants (CARTV), which will then set up a compliance evaluation procedure (audit) covering the firm's structure, quality system, reference standards and professional practices. The CARTV will then grant the firm the status of certifier once these procedures have been completed, a period that may extend over 6 to 12 months, depending on case complexity.

Which types of monitoring does a certifying body carry out?

Above all else, a certifying body monitors how a client's operations match its set of specifications. To do so, the certifier requires that the operator transmit a written description of its production or operation system in order to verify the degree of compliance. The operator is then subjected to a more in-depth verification process undertaken by an inspector assigned by the certifying body. This certifier schedules inspections on an annual basis, and may also make surprise or unannounced visits, should there be any complaints or doubts as to the compliance of operations.

The certifier also monitors the use of its certification mark: In certain cases it monitors the certification mark to verify its compliance regarding any reference alluding to organic methods on packaging, advertising and promotional materials or other related documents.

Can all agricultural food and products be certified as organic?

In Quebec, only certain products are included and within the CARTV's scope of approval. These include the agricultural food and product categories currently covered by Quebec's organic reference standards, and only products within these categories may be labeled organic. These product categories are: agricultural and animal products, products intended for animal consumption, as well as maple syrup products, cosmetics and personal care products.

It should be mentioned here that other product categories, including aquaculture and also textile products, may eventually be integrated within these reference standards.

Which costs must be incurred to obtain certification?

The costs generally vary between $350 and $3,000, depending on whether you are a maple producer, farmer or processor, and there may also be fixed fees set by the various certifying bodies.