CAN/CGSB-32.310-2020

1 Scope 1.1 This National Standard of Canada applies to the following organic products: a) Unprocessed plants and plant products, livestock and livestock products, to the extent that the principles of production and specific verification rules for them are described in the standard; b) Processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended for human consumption or use and derived from the items mentioned in 1.1 a); c) Livestock feed; d) Processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended for animal consumption or use and derived from the items mentioned in 1.1 a). 1.2 Organic products referenced in this standard are derived from a production system that: a) seeks to nurture ecosystems through its management practices in order to achieve sustainable productivity; and b) provides control of pests including insects, weeds and disease through enhancement of biodiversity, recycling of plant and animal residues, crop selection and rotation, water management, tillage and cultivation. 1.3 Units of measure Quantities and dimensions in this standard are given in metric units with yard/pound equivalents, mostly obtained through soft conversion, given in parentheses. The metric units shall be regarded as being official in the event of dispute or unforeseen difficulty arising from the conversion. 1.4 Prohibited materials or techniques in organic production and preparation If producing or preparing organic products, the following materials or techniques are prohibited since they are incompatible with the general principles of organic production: a) all products of and materials from genetic engineering (GE), as defined in this standard, and as specified in 4.1.3, 5.1.2 and 6.2.1 of CAN/CGSB-32.311; b) all products, materials or processes intentionally using nanotechnology, as defined in this standard, with the following exceptions: 1) naturally occurring nano-sized particles or those produced incidentally through processes such as grinding flour; 2) contact surfaces, such as equipment, work surfaces or packaging, where transference of nano-sized particles to organic crops, livestock or products is unintended and unlikely to occur; c) irradiation, as defined in this standard, for the treatment of organic products and inputs used in the production of organic products, except as specified in CAN/CGSB-32.311; d) cloned livestock and its descendants; e) equipment, harvest and storage containers, storage facilities and packaging materials treated with fungicides, preservatives, fumigants and pesticides not listed in CAN/CGSB-32.311, except as permitted in 8.2.3 and 8.3.3 of CAN/CGSB-32.310. 1.5 Prohibited substances in organic production and preparation In addition to Clause 1.4, when producing or preparing organic products, the following substances are prohibited since they are incompatible with the general principles of organic production: a) soil amendments, such as fertilizer or composted plant and animal material, that contain a substance not listed in CAN/CGSB-32.311; b) sewage sludge; c) any crop production aids or substances not listed in CAN/CGSB-32.311; d) plant, fungal and animal growth regulators, except as specified in CAN/CGSB-32.311; e) veterinary drugs, including antibiotics and parasiticides, except as permitted by this standard; f) non-organic ingredients, food additives and processing aids used in organic product preparation, including sulphates, sulphites, nitrates and nitrites, except as permitted by this standard or specified in CAN/CGSB-32.311; g) formulants except as specified in CAN/CGSB-32.311; NOTE See the PSL Decision Tree in Annex B for a methodology that may assist in the completion of input reviews.