Organic certification for herbal products in Canada is less straightforward than most brand owners expect. In fact, the gap between an organic ingredient and an organic finished product catches many new brands at the label-proof stage. The Canada Organic Regime was written for food, feed and seed, while natural health products sit under a different set of regulations entirely. So this guide walks through what the organic rules require, where NHPs fall, and what to have on file before the word "organic" goes anywhere near your packaging.
Key Takeaways
- The Canada Organic Regime sits under Part 13 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, and the CFIA administers it.
- Only products with 95% or more organic content can be labelled "organic" or carry the Canada Organic logo; 70% to 94% can only declare a percentage.
- CFIA guidance places natural health products outside the Canada Organic Regime, so a finished NHP cannot be certified under it or carry the logo.
- Certified organic raw herbs still matter for NHP brands, but any organic wording on an NHP label must be truthful, documented and checked against Health Canada rules.
- Keep organic certificates, supplier records and lot traceability on file for every ingredient you describe as organic.
How the Canada Organic Regime Works
Since January 2019, organic claims in Canada have fallen under Part 13 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency runs the system, which it calls the Canada Organic Regime. Part 13 applies when a product carries an organic claim and crosses a provincial border or enters Canada as an import. It also applies to any product that displays the Canada Organic logo.
Certification itself comes from a certification body that the CFIA has accredited. That body audits the operation against the Canadian Organic Standards, which are published as CAN/CGSB-32.310 (principles and management standards) and CAN/CGSB-32.311 (permitted substances lists). As a result, an organic claim is only as strong as the certificate behind it.
Provincial rules add another layer. Products sold only within their province of origin fall outside Part 13 unless they bear the logo. However, several provinces, including Quebec and British Columbia, run their own organic rules for products sold within their borders. The practical implication: check the rules in every province where your product will sell, not just the federal ones. The CFIA's overview of how organic products are regulated in Canada is the best starting point.
Organic Certification Thresholds for Herbal Products
For products inside the regime, organic certification for herbal products and foods comes down to percentages. The CFIA sets three tiers based on organic content:
In addition, any label that shows the logo or claims 70% or more organic content must name the certification body. The CFIA also does not permit the claim "100% organic" in Canada. You can confirm the current wording rules on the CFIA's page on organic claims on food labels.
Here's what that means in practice: the percentage is a formulation decision as much as a marketing one. For example, a blend that mixes certified organic herbs with conventional ones may drop below 95% and lose the right to the word "organic" on the front panel. So settle the organic target before formulation work begins, not after the label is designed.
Where NHPs Fit with Organic Certification of Herbal Products
This is where most brands run into trouble. CFIA guidance lists natural health products, cosmetics and pet food as outside the scope of the Canada Organic Regime. Consequently, a finished product licensed as an NHP cannot be certified under the regime, and it cannot carry the Canada Organic logo. The same applies to a topical product classified as a cosmetic.
Classification therefore comes first. Some botanical products, such as certain oils, could be marketed as a food, a cosmetic or an NHP depending on how they are presented. If your product sits on that line, read our guides to supplemented food vs NHP and cosmetic vs NHP. For complex cases, Health Canada can provide a formal classification recommendation.
The CFIA guidance does not settle every question, though. In particular, it does not spell out how an NHP label may describe organic ingredients. NHP labels follow the Natural Health Products Regulations and Health Canada's labelling guidance, and both require that a label not be false or misleading. For that reason, treat any organic wording on an NHP as a claim that needs supporting evidence. Confirm current expectations with Health Canada or a regulatory consultant before you print. Our post on NHP label requirements covers the wider labelling rules.
Sourcing Certified Organic Raw Herbs
Even when the finished NHP sits outside the regime, raw herbs are agricultural products, and growers and suppliers can certify them. Many brands still choose certified organic ingredients for sourcing, quality and market reasons. If you do, the documentation matters as much as the herb.
Ask each supplier for a current organic certificate that names the certification body and covers the specific product you are buying. Also ask for lot-level documents, such as transaction certificates, so you can trace each lot back to a certified source. For imports, check whether an equivalence arrangement applies. For instance, the United States-Canada Organic Equivalence Arrangement lets certified products move between the two systems under set conditions.
Organic sourcing also affects cost and supply. Certified organic herbs usually cost more, and some species have limited certified supply. As a result, a shortage can force a reformulation or a label change mid-run. Our guides to herb supplier qualification and traceability and sustainable sourcing certifications go deeper on vetting suppliers.
Questions to Settle Before You Claim Organic
Before any organic wording reaches your packaging, work through these questions with your regulatory advisor and your manufacturer:
The short version: organic is a regulated claim with paperwork behind it, not a style choice. Brands that plan for it early avoid expensive label reprints later. For a broader view of organic versus conventional inputs, see our earlier post on organic vs conventional tinctures.
If you are weighing organic certification for herbal products in your next launch, our manufacturing services page explains how a contract engagement works, and you can contact Perfect Herbs to talk through your formulation. This article is general information, not legal or regulatory advice.
Published: October 13, 2026