The Organic Federation of Canada has initiated the process of revising the Canadian Organic Standards and is seeking public input. The public is welcome to provide their opinions and ideas, which will be categorized according to topics. Working groups will then be established by July 30th to discuss whether or not the national standard requires any modifications. The revised standard is scheduled to be published in December 2025, after several working group meetings, votes from technical committees, and a period of public comment. The revision process is necessary to maintain an up-to-date status on the regulations and is required once every five years, as stipulated in the international trade agreements with 33 different countries.   Tia Loftsgard, executive director of the Canada Organic Trade Association, stated that the revision process is exciting, and it is necessary to investigate new technologies being introduced to the market. She highlighted the issue of genetic engineering, which is anticipated to come up during the process. One of the key issues that the organic sector will have to face is the elimination of the need for seed developers to locate gene-edited seeds that do not feature any novel qualities. This issue raises questions about the testing methods used to ensure that genetically engineered products are not being sold as organic. Another topic that is expected to come up during the revision process is fairness. In the previous iteration of the standards, there were regulations governing how animals are handled, but none addressing how employees are treated. Loftsgard believes that now is the right time to bring up this issue and develop new regulations to protect workers' rights. The revision of the standards is being funded by Agriculture Canada, as the organic industry does not have the approximately $700,000 that is anticipated to be needed for the review. Ottawa is the owner of the standard, and the revision process is crucial for maintaining the relevance of the standards in light of technological advancements and evolving consumer demand. The Canadian Organic Standards differentiate the organic sector from regenerative agriculture and other classifications such as "natural," "green," and "sustainable." The standards cover the entire organic supply chain, including production, handling, labeling, and certification. The revised standard will serve as the foundation for equivalence agreements with significant trading partners such as the European Union, the United States of America, and Japan. The EU is often regarded as having the world's most stringent organic standards, making it a benchmark for the Canadian assessment. The revised EU rules focus on improving the transparency and consistency of organic production and ensuring that the products meet consumers' expectations. The EU has also introduced new requirements for organic aquaculture and beekeeping. The Canadian organic sector has been experiencing steady growth over the past few years. According to a report by the Canada Organic Trade Association, the organic food and beverage market in Canada was valued at $6.4 billion in 2020, representing a 5% increase from the previous year. The report also highlighted the increasing demand for organic products, particularly among younger consumers, who are more aware of the environmental and social impacts of their consumption choices. The revision of the Canadian Organic Standards is an opportunity to address the challenges facing the organic sector and ensure that the regulations remain relevant and effective. The public input and working group discussions will help to identify the key issues and develop new regulations to address them. The revision process is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the organic sector and ensuring that consumers have access to high-quality organic products that meet their expectations.

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