Canada-Mexico Organic Equivalence Arrangement Takes Effect
Canada and Mexico signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month recognizing the two countries’ national organic systems as equivalent. The Canada–Mexico Organic Equivalency Arrangement, which took effect Feb. 15, allows certain Canadian certified organic products to be sold as organic in Mexico, and vice versa, as long as the terms of the MOU are met, Canada said. The MOU covers a range of Canadian and Mexican organic products exports, including plant-origin agricultural goods, certain plant-origin processed foods, livestock and “beekeeping products.”
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As part of the MOU, the two countries will establish a technical working group to “address any issues concerning the activities carried out under” the memorandum. The working group will be composed of “technical experts” from Canada and Mexico and will meet annually.
The MOU also restricts organic products certified to the "Mexican Organic Standard" and imported to Canada from being reexported to the U.S. or “used as an ingredient in processed products exported to the U.S.,” Livingston International said in a Feb. 22 regulatory update. But organic products certified to Mexico and imported to Canada “may be used as ingredients in processed products certified under the Canada Organic Regime and exported to other countries,” the company said.