As of next year, Canada and Japan will be able to trade organic fruits and vegetables with each other under their own national certifications, after the two countries recently signed an equivalency agreement. 

The arrangement was announced yesterday by Canada's Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, and is due to come into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.

Under the deal, the organic production and certification systems in each country will be fully recognized, making it easier and cheaper for exporters to sell organic products in either country.

According to industry estimates, the deal will enable Japan-bound Canadian organic exports to reach CAD$20 million (US$18.1 million) annually within the next five years.

In April last year, Canada announced it had achieved an organic equivalency deal with Costa Rica for a range of products including pineapples, rice, bananas, coffee, oranges and sugarcane.

Work is also getting underway on establishing a similar deal with Mexico, following the recent 9th Mexico-Canada Alliance (AMC) meeting.

The AMC was established in 2004 in a bid to bolster bilateral trade opportunities and promote high-level dialogue between the public and private sectors.

Related articles: Canada and Costa Rica reach organic agreement

Mexico and Canada work to strengthen agri-trade alliance

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