News Release: Consultation Begins on Organic Standard in Ontario

(Queen’s Park) –Sylvia Jones, MPP Dufferin-Caledon invited organic producers and consumers to participate in Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) consultations on creating an organic standard in Ontario.

Consultation dates are:

In person at OMAFRA Field Offices date: December 5^th, 2017 9:30am-11:30am

Locations: Toronto, Ridgetown, Woodstock, Brighton, Kemptville, Guelph, Vineland, Sturgeon Falls, Sault Sainte Marie.

Online via Webnar, Date: December 7, 2017, 9:30am to 10:30am (English), December 7, 2017 1:30-2:30pm (French)

You can register by emailing ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca

“In 2009, the Federal government adopted the Canada Organic Standard. However, there is no provincial regulation for organic product, meaning anyone is free to use the term ‘organic’. This inconsistency leads to erosion in consumer confidence in organic products,” said Jones.

“The Ministry’s consultation is an important step towards adopting an Ontario an organic standard, through my private members bill The Organic Products Act, 2017, or Bill 153,” said Jones.