An Historic agreement reached between the U.S. and Canada.A standing-room only 9:30 a.m. keynote session with USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan on Wednesday, June 17, started off with an announcement that an equivalency agreement had been reached between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
This historic equivalency agreement will allow the continued smooth flow of certified organic products between the two countries and support the continued growth of this rapidly expanding market in North America.
The official signing took place later in the afternoon during the State of the Organic Industry in North America session. The agreement, signed by the two government agencies, takes effect on June 30.
As a result, certified organic products, as of July 1, can continue to move freely across the U.S. and Canadian border provided they use the new Canada/Organic Biologique label or the USDA Organic seal.
What this means for consumers is access to a more affordable range of organic products, increased product diversity and a reliable supply chain.
Check out the Organic Trade Association (OTA) web site at http://www.ota.com/ for more information.
Cheers and celebrations continued throughout the day and into the night at the OTA’s Annual Awards Dinner and Dance Party.
Beyond Chicago, politicians applauded the agreement with Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, stating:
“I congratulate the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on this historic trade agreement with Canada. This welcome news represents a bright spot in our economic landscape that could not come at a better time for farmers in the midst of a deep recession. Canadian consumers are demanding organic products to the tune of $2.6 billion, and this agreement will make it easier for U.S. organic farmers to market their products.
I am pleased that in the new Administration, USDA is leading the way to promote the opportunity for the full breadth and variety of U.S. agriculture. Organic agriculture has been one of the fastest growing segments of American agriculture over the past decade, and this new agreement, in conjunction with the tremendous investment that Congress made in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, the Farm Bill, into initiatives to help organic farmers, will help to continue that growth.”
Wow, and this is just the start of Day 2!
Image courtesy of the Organic Trade Association
Barbara Robinson, (center) Deputy Administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Jaspinder Komal, (left) Director of the Agrifood Division of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, hold up the signed agreements. With them is Kelly Strzelecki, (left) agricultural economist with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
