ORC, Guelph January 24th, 04
Welcome and Introductions
Present: Paddy as Chair, COABC, Janine as Recorder, COG, Debbie Miller, SOD, Grant
Whitmore, SK Processor ,Raymond Loo, OCIA, France Gravel, Table Filiere, Larry
Lenhard,OCCPro, Michel Samaur, CFIA, Karen Davidge, ACORN, Alex Scott, OPAM, Arnold
Taylor, SOD, John Hollinger, MB Gov Organic Specialist, Ann Slater, EFAO, Jennifer Grant,
CHFA, Stephanie Wells, OTA, Wally Hamm, OCPPro, Jon Cloud, ON Processor.
1. Minutes from August 12'03 approved as circulated and presented.
2. Review of ORC Reps and Alternates; J. Cruikshank and Steve Snider have both been invited
to participate but have not been active todate. Discussion of inviting Kerri Sharp to rep Alberta.
Michel asks to participate on the committee; discussion of numbers effecting conference call
costs vs benefots of open communication. Michel states we are the only current industry
representative group and they need us as a sounding board. Discussuion of welcoming gov rep
input to the committee.No decision taken. Recognitionthat the ORC participation list is dynamic.
One current subcommittee- Communication-consists of Wally, Paddy, Stephanie and Janine.
3. Action Plan Update: Paddy reviews his latest revision of the action plan. Much is on schedule
and has been accomplished. Presentation of the RPA will be the end of April. The final Version
(3) will be created from input received at the Consultations and presented to Minister Speller for
his approval. Paddy is revising point 1.12 to include Ministerial Approval as a key aspect to
successful progress. Then a new ACtion Plan will need to be drafted. Probably after a month
(May 30th) or prior, we will hear from CFIA about the status.
Jon Cloud cautions the group to learn from the US experieince where certifiers and operators are
feeling somewhat sidelined along with the NOSB, by the USDA NOP process, into being mere
service providers, not directors of the process.
Paddy will circulate updates on the Action Plan as we draft them.Report that funding for his
crucial coordination position will likely continue to Dec 2005. (Sigh of relief!)
Michel states that the Regime needs to be approved and a presentation of the structure and
function of an advisory/guidance body needs to be presented to CFIA.
4. RPA-ORC Input: Members invited to input to website and continue to attend consultations, as
member clarifications and answers to questions is welcome to communicate broadbased
ownership of the RPA. Michel encourages all members to support certifiers in collecting statistics
and donating the time in gathering the info, for the benefit of the entire sector.
Janine will forward research on the Reduced Safety Risks of Organic Production over Chemical
Production for the RPA.
Karen encourages us to be accurate in numbers, as we will have to live with the results and
consequences. Raymond reports that the PEI Producers Assoc have gathered recent stats and
are ready to submit them for Anne Macey's stats project.
Jennifer states that OTA has done this work in the US funded by their members.
Janine reports that Anne has been doing this work on behalf of COG and the sector for many
years, as a volunteer. Jon talks about methodology for tracking organic exports via a organic
check off per commodity.
5. How are we going to interact with the Regulators?
Methods to effectively input relevant info- discussion of subcommittee formation and models to
use: Codex, NOP, EU. Steph, Debbie, Wally, Larry, Paddy, wish to approach Robert, to be the
new Regulation Task Force.
6. PSL-Expert Committee Function:Part of AAFC-Need more info on this Committee function.
Larry suggests we ask them to form a PSL subcommittee. We encourage him to research and
report back.
7. Version III:Need to structure Advisory Body-possible Organic Coalition of Canada. Need to
discuss standard maintenance options: staying with CGSB?
We are following NOP & EU models of some standards within the regulation. PSL and Guidance
documents would be separate and more readily updated.
Advisory body could be a committee of the Coalition. Call for more formal structure of the
Working Groups.
Adjournment