Canada Tightens Organic Import Certification Rules Starting May 26

Beyond documentation, CFIA is strengthening enforcement mechanisms against the use of false organic labels or expired certificates.

Beginning May 26, 2025, Canada will implement the second phase of its new organic import certification requirements.

Importers and brokers will now be required to submit a digital copy of the organic certificate as part of their release request through the Single Window Initiative (SWI).

This follows the first phase of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) two-stage project to strengthen import controls for organic products, which began in November 2024 and required importers to declare whether they held a valid organic certificate at the time of import.

These updates aim to improve traceability, reduce the risk of fraudulent organic claims, and ensure all imported products meet Canada’s organic standards.

Under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), misrepresenting a product as organic without proper organic import certification is a violation and may be subject to CFIA enforcement actions.

New certificate submission requirement

All shipments of organic products must now be accompanied by a digital image of the valid organic certificate.

This must be submitted through the Integrated Import Declaration (IID) platform, which is part of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) SWI.

Once a certificate is uploaded, the CBSA will assign a unique reference number (URN) for it. The URN can be reused in future declarations involving the same certificate.

If a shipment contains products covered by separate certificates, multiple URNs may be included in one declaration.

IID submissions that lack either a valid URN or an attached certificate image will be rejected. Moreover, CBSA will not process declarations until all required documents are submitted correctly.

Canada’s organic regime import requirements

Importers must be able to present a valid organic product certificate at any time—including at the time of import—upon request by CFIA officers or other enforcement authorities.

The organic certificate must:

• Be issued by a certification body accredited by the CFIA, or by a body recognized under an official organic equivalency agreement.
• Include the product name(s) exactly as they appear on packaging, shipping documentation, and customs records.
• Be specific to the certified product(s) and, where applicable, include brand names or trademarks.

While the format of the certificate may vary depending on the certifying country, it must meet Canada’s recognition criteria.

Certificates issued by CFIA-accredited bodies do not carry expiration dates. However, they must be updated annually, with the renewal date clearly indicated.

U.S.-Canada organic equivalency requirements

For products imported under the U.S.-Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement (USCOEA), the certificate must:

• Be issued by a USDA National Organic Program (NOP)-accredited certification body.
• Include the following statement: “Certified in accordance with the terms of the US-Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement.”

Failing to include this exact language may result in the shipment being denied organic status under Canadian regulations.

Next steps for Canadian importers

If you import organic products into Canada, you now need to:

• Review the AIRS Database for updates on organic product listings.
• Ensure that digital copies of organic certificates are available for all relevant products.
• Familiarize yourself with the process of obtaining and using URNs.
• Confirm that your certification body is CFIA-accredited or recognized.
• Speak to your customs broker to understand the new requirements and ensure full compliance.

How Cole International can help

At Cole International, we offer customs and compliance consulting services to help businesses navigate and comply with changing regulations.

We also provide timely and efficient customs brokerage services to facilitate the entry of goods into Canada.

If you import organic products, please reach out to one of our trade professionals to discuss the new import requirements and how we can help.