Organic Certifications

COABC – British Columbia Certified Organic

COABC’s approach to food production is based on care for the earth. We recognize that as human beings, we are one creature among many that are all inter-related and interdependent. We are part of an organic movement that embraces a wide diversity of activities and enterprises related to the organic production of food and encompass all sizes of operations. While one of the tools we use is a regulatory framework to permit exports, our priority is the establishment and maintenance of local food systems. We accept the principles of organic farming and processing identified by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) and engage in research of appropriate techniques to enable us to put them all into practice.

The British Columbia Organic sector strives to ensure high quality products in sufficient quantity produced under safe working conditions. Organic farmers work to nurture living, healthy soil, biological diversity, ecological harmony using sustainable practices and renewable resources including healthy animals and natural livestock socialization. The sector as a whole supports integrated, diversified farms which receive adequate farmer returns.

Canada Organic Certified

The organic logos and names of certifying bodies (CBs) are your assurance that a product has been grown and processed according to internationally recognized organic standards. The Canadian national standards control which substances can be used, how the soil is managed (organic farmers must demonstrate that they are building soil fertility), when and how processing facilities are cleaned, as well as how organic products are segregated from non-organic ones during transportation and sale.

Adherence to the standards is verified annually in both field and processing facility by independent organic inspectors. The Canada Organic Logo is a quick way to identify products grown and processed according to Canada’s national organic standards.

P.A.C.S. – Pacific Agricultural Certification Society

The PACS was established in 2001 to provide efficient, cost effective, internationally recognised certification services to clients in the agriculture and food sector. Since inception the PACS has grown steadily and has in excess of 330 members, not only in British Columbia but also in a number of Canadian provinces and the Yukon. We have new applications arriving daily.

The PACS is accredited by The Certified Organic Associations of BC (COABC) under the British Columbia Certified Organic Program to provide ISO 65 (International Standards Organisation) compliant organic certification to producers, processors, handlers, distributors, brokers and retailers of organic agri-food products. The COABC also administers the BC Certified Organic Accreditation Program ISO 17011 compliant accreditation system. As of June 30, 2009 a new Canadian Standard was implemented and COABC was designated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to monitor and provide accreditation to certification bodies.

Demeter Certified Biodynamic

Demeter Canada coordinates all biodynamic certification across Canada. Demeter offers two levels of certification, Demeter and “in-conversion” to Demeter, both of which are internationally recognized standards. Our mission is to enable people to farm successfully, in accordance with Biodynamic® practices and principles. Demeter’s vision is to heal the planet through agriculture.