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Tip: Your message to SUST-MAR must be html-free. So, BEFORE you hit SEND, please go to your "Format" pull-down menu and select "Plain text." Thanks! ____________________________________________________________________________ >===== Original Message From Laura Jean <laurajean@eastlink.ca> ===== Organic Standard Unlike the U.S., Canada does not yet have a national organic standard. Instead we have a hodgepodge of standards that vary for each region. This is confusing for consumers and threatens to leave us out in the cold when it comes to trading with the European Union (EU). The EU is developing a list of third party countries that it is willing to trade with. Without an organic standard and progress on an organic regulation, Canada runs the risk of being left off this list. However, there is a good chance that we can meet the EU's deadline. After a long struggle and much work by members of the Organic Regulatory Committee, Canada is finalizing a draft national organic standard. Both the Permitted Substances List (PSL) and the Editorial Working Groups have been working hard to finalize the draft standard. Members of the committee will soon be asked to vote on the draft. Please get involved in this issue. If the government perceives a lack of broad based support amongst Canadians for the standard, we could lose this opportunity which could be a serious blow to the industry. Here's How You Can Get Involved If you're on the Organic Regulatory Committee, be sure to vote for the standard; If you're not on the Committee, write a note to the federal government urging rapid adoption of the Standard. Send your letters to: Bill Breckman 303 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 3G7 Phone: (204) 983-4596 Fax: (204) 983-4583 Email: breckmanw@agr.gc.ca Or if you prefer to go to the top, send your comments to: Honourable Lyle Vanclief Minister of Agriculture and Food 930 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C5 Fax: (613) 759-1081 Attend the public consultation processes and get informed. There will be three consultation opportunities in different parts of the country: Guelph University Organic Conference January 23, Guelph, ON COABC AGM and Conference February 28, Naramata, BC ACORN Conference March 26, Cornwall, PEI If you have any questions on the standard or how you can make your voice heard, please address them to COG's President: Janine Gibson Phone: 204 434-6018 Email: janine@mts.net Or visit the Canada Organic Initiative web page at http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/COI/COI.htm Representative Body for the Canadian Organic Sector There are dozens of organic organizations throughout our country, but we lack a national forum where participants can come together to initiate policy discussions or make decisions on behalf of the entire sector. If you're interested in participating in a dialogue on this issue, visit http://www.organicagcentre.ca/ and sign up for the discussion forum. If there is enough interest, there will be further discussion at the Guelph Organic Conference. For more information contact: Paddy Doherty Phone: 250 747-3287 Email: paddy@quesnelbc.com /Laura info@acornorganic.org Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN) ____________________________________________________________________________ Did a friend forward this to you? Join sust-mar yourself! Just send 'subscribe sust-mar' to mailto:majordomo@chebucto.ca
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