Overview: Canada Mexico Organic Equivalency Arrangement (CMOEA)

Canada and Mexico signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) recognizing the 2 national organic systems as equivalent. The recognitions apply to agricultural products of plant origin, and processed foods of plant origin, livestock and livestock products grown or produced in Canada or whose final processing and packaging occurs in Canada and agricultural products of plant origin, and processed foods of plant origin grown or produced in Mexico whose final processing and packaging occurs in Mexico.

Final processing means the activities of cooking, baking, curing, heating, drying, mixing, grinding, beating, separating, extracting, slaughtering animals, cutting, fermenting, distilling, gutting, heading, preserving, dehydrating, pre-cooling, cooling and freezing or similar manufacturing procedures to the previous ones, and that include the packing, repackaging, canning, packaging, framing or the containment of food in containers.

1. Mexico's import requirements

1.1 Canadian organic products covered under CMOEA

Canadian certified organic products may be sold as organic in Mexico, as long as the terms of the MOU are met.

Starting February 15, 2023 the following Canadian organic products are covered under CMOEA and can be sold in Mexico:

• agricultural products of plant origin
• processed foods of plant origin
• livestock
• processed food products containing livestock ingredients
• beekeeping products

These products may also use the Canada organic logo in compliance with Part 13 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

Canadian exporters may also use the Mexican organic logo known as the National Label for Organic Products from Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRICULTURA).

Canadian organic products exported to Mexico under the CMOEA must be accompanied by:

• a copy of the current COR certificate, issued by a CB accredited by the CFIA. If the language of the certificate is only English and/or French, a translation of the certificate in Spanish must be attached
• an "International Transactions Document", format O-SQ-F03 provided by the National Service of Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) that attests compliance with the terms of Appendix 1 of the MOU, issued by a certification body (CB) accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

The "International Transactions Document" has to accompany each shipment. The Mexican importer must present the original document (either in physical form with a handwritten signature, or in electronic format with a digital signature) at the point of entry into Mexico. Copy of the template is shared with the CFIA accredited CBs certifying organic products in Canada.

1.2  Mexico's organic regulations

• Organic Products Law, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on February 7, 2006 (LPO)
• Regulation of the Organic Products Law, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on April 1, 2010
• Agreement by which the national distinctive of organic products is made known and the general rules are established for its use in the labeling of certified organic products, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on October 25, 2013
• Agreement that modifies, adds and repeals various provisions of the diverse one by which the guidelines for the organic operation of agricultural activities are disclosed, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on June 8, 2020

All the above regulations can be found on the Gobierno de México website.

1.3 Mexico's labelling requirements

All organic products covered in the MOU and exported to Mexico must comply with the Mexican labelling requirements specified in articles 201 to 204 from the "Agreement that modifies, adds and repeals various provisions of the diverse one by which the guidelines for the organic operation of agricultural activities are disclosed, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on June 8, 2020" in addition to other labelling requirements established in official Mexican standards.

For fresh, bulk or processed products, the label must contain the following information:

• The name of the CB accredited by the CFIA
• Organic certificate number or operator code

For processed/packaged products, the label must contain the following information:

• The name of the CB accredited by the CFIA
• Organic certificate number or operator code
• The list of organic ingredients
• The name and address of the manufacturer (packer, distributor, importer, processor, etc.) of the product to be exported
• The statement: "Certified Organic by...", or a similar phrase, followed by the name of the CFIA-accredited CB (seals of certification bodies alone cannot be used to meet this requirement)

The label may display the Canadian Organic Logo and/or the National Seal of organic products from SADER/SENASICA. The use of the Mexican National Seal is optional on Canadian organic products covered by the MOU and exported to Mexico. When the National Seal is used, its use needs to be compliant with the provisions of the Mexican Organic requirements.

In case of using the National Seal, the following must be observed:

• The National Seal must never appear linked or invaded by other graphic elements
• The National Seal must be in a visible place on the front or side of the package, followed by the legend "Certified by:" or "CERTIFIED BY:"
• If the operator uses other national and private logos on the labeling, the National Seal must have a size equal or greater than these
• Any reproduction of the National Seal must be in accordance with the specified colors
• The digital files of the National Seal must be requested from the CFIA by the Canadian CB responsible for the certification

2. Canada's import requirements

2.1 Mexican organic products covered under CMOEA

Starting February 15, 2023 the following Mexican organic products covered under CMOEA and subject to the conditions set forth in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of the MOU can be sold in Canada:

• agricultural products of plant origin including fungi
• processed foods of plant origin
• beekeeping products

These products may use AGRICULTURA's national seal for organic products.

Mexican exporters may use the Canada organic logo, in accordance with section 13 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

Mexican organic products must be accompanied by:

• a copy of the current LPO certificate, issued by a CB approved by SENASICA. If the language of the certificate is only Spanish, a translation of the certificate in English must be attached, and;
• an export certificate (EC) that attests to compliance with the terms of Annex II of the MOU, issued by a certification body that is under supervision of AGRICULTURA through SENASICA, and is accredited and approved in compliance with the LPO. The Canadian importer must present the EC in original (either in physical form with a handwritten signature, or in electronic format with a digital signature) at the point of entry into Canada.

A copy of the export certificate template is shared with SENASICA approved CBs that are trained and are qualified to issue an export certificate of organic products for shipments destined to Canada. Both documents must accompany each shipment sent to Canada.

The list of the SENASICA approved Certification Bodies can be found on the Gobierno de México website.

Export certificate template

Description of export certificate template

The certificate includes the following form fields:

1. File number
2. Importing country
3. Name of importer and address
4. Name of exporter and address
5. Date of issue
6. Exporting country
7. Certificate number
8. Name of certification body and address
9. Name of certified operator and address
10. Name of product
11. Lot number
12. Unit weight / package specification
13. Quantity
14. Total net weight
15. Additional remarks (if any)
16. Name and signature of the CB authorized person

Standards: This certification is based on compliance with the Mexico's Organic Products Law (LPO).

Declaration: This certificate confirms that the products specified above have been certified by Mexico's National Service for Animal and Plant Health, Food Safety and Quality (SENASICA) approved Certification Body and have been found to meet all applicable requirements of the Mexico's Organic Products Law (LPO) and the terms of the Canada- Mexico MOU.

Competent Authority:
National Service for Animal and Plant Health, Food Safety and Quality (SENASICA)

Instructions for completing an export certificate

1. • File number
   • Reference number assigned to this document (to be filled by the issuing certification body), each unique identification number may be used only once and must be maintained in a control log (paper-based or electronic) that records each Export Certificate (EC) that the certification body creates, including all those issued, voided, or destroyed.
2. • Importing country
   • Country the indicated organic product is destined for - CANADA.
3. • Name of importer and address
   • Importer or buyer in Canada and its mailing address.
4. • Name of exporter and address
   • MEXICAN exporter or seller and its mailing address.
5. • Date of issue
   • Issuance date of this document (to be filled by the issuing certification body). Dating format is YYYY/MM/DD, for example June 9, 2020 will be written as 2020/06/09.
6. • Exporting country
   • Country the indicated organic agricultural product is originated from – Mexico.
7. • Certificate number
   • Reference number of the organic certificate issued by the certification body for the indicated organic agricultural product.
8. • Name of certification body and address
   • Name and address of the certification body that certifies the indicated organic agricultural product.
9. • Name of certified operator and address
   • Operator who handled organic food products at the final step before exporting, as indicated on the organic certificate.
10. • Name of product
    • Generic name used to refer to the indicated product.
11. • Lot number
    • Lot number assigned to the indicated product.
12. • Unit weight/package specification
    • Minimum unit (weight) in which the product is sold at market. For example; organic tomato juice in units of 0.75 liter/bottles.
13. • Quantity
    • Total units of the indicated product (100 units for example).
14. • Total net weight
    • Total net weight (volume) of the indicated product, which will equate to Item 12 times Item 13. For example: 0.75 liter/bottle x 100 units (bottles) = 75L.
15. • Additional remarks (if any)
    • Other comments related to the product, if any.
16. • Name and signature of the CB authorized person
    • Require the signature or seal of the authorized individual from the certification body that issued this certificate. This individual is responsible for all aspects of the issuance of this certificate.

2.2 Mexican organic agricultural products outside the scope of the agreement

Livestock and products from Mexican organic livestock, including processed foods of animal origin, may be imported and sold in Canada as organic, if they are certified under the Canadian Organic Standard CAN/CGSNB 32.310 by a CFIA-accredited CB. These organic products must be accompanied by a valid organic certificate, issued by a CFIA-accredited CB.

2.3 Canada's labelling requirements

All Mexican organic products covered under the MOU and imported into Canada must comply with the Canadian labelling requirements and may bear the Canada organic logo. A copy of the logo must be requested from the Mexican CBs responsible for the certification.

All foods imported to Canada must meet the regulatory requirements under the Safe Food for Canadians Act and regulations and the Food and Drug Act and regulations.

2.4 Mexican organic products imported into Canada for re-export

Mexican organic products certified to the Mexican organic standard and imported to Canada cannot be re-exported to the U.S. or used as ingredients in products destined for the US market under the U.S.-Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement. These products may be used as ingredients in processed products certified under the Canada Organic Regime and exported to other countries.