import and export

Canada and Mexico have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that recognizes the two organic regulatory systems as equivalent. The arrangement is the first organic equivalence that Mexico has signed with another country and may pave the way for additional equivalences in the future.

CCOF has received clarification regarding the import of organic products into Mexico. All products with organic claims crossing the border to Mexico must be accompanied by a Mexico organic certificate and a Control/International Transaction Document. Border officials have begun to reject shipments if products making organic claims are not accompanied by these two documents. 

Effective July 13, 2022, National Organic Program (NOP) import certificates are required for all shipments from India. In addition, TraceNet certificates of inspection from the Agricultural and Processed Foods Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) are also required. Importers and operations that are the first certified organic businesses in the United States to purchase or receive imported goods from India are required to maintain these documents on site and to make them available for inspection.

Global demand for USDA organic products continues to increase, and the pandemic has only accelerated this trend. As the nation's largest organic certifier, CCOF is well-equipped to provide the necessary review and export documentation to sell certified USDA products in many international markets, including Canada, the EU, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and others. Access our international flyer for a full list of markets. 

A reminder for operations exporting organic products to Mexico: 

Mexico’s import regulation affecting organic exports to Mexico takes effect January 1, 2022. The regulation requires a control or transaction document to accompany shipment of certain organic commodities (listed in Annex 1 sections b–f). Work with your importer to determine if your exports will require a control document.

El 26 de junio de 2021 entra en vigor un reglamento de importación mexicano que afecta a los productos orgánicos. Este reglamento establece que los envíos de ciertos productos orgánicos (enumerados en las secciones b-f del Anexo 1) deben ir acompañados con un documento de control o transacción. Consulte con su importador para determinar si sus exportaciones requieren un documento de control.

On June 16, 2021, Mexico’s agriculture secretariat (SADER) extended the deadline for its import regulation affecting organic exports to Mexico. View the official notice of extension here.

All imported products have some risk of treatment at U.S. borders and ports. Some imported products are at higher risk of being treated upon entry into the United States or have a higher risk of fraud. CCOF currently considers the following products to be high risk: sugar, grains, beans, seeds, corn, soy, edible dry beans, flax, sunflower meal, wheat, and their derivatives, imported from anywhere outside the United States.  

The United States and Canada announced the expansion of their organic equivalency arrangements with Japan to include livestock products, effective July 16, 2020. This reduces costs and streamlines the process for anyone involved in the organic livestock supply chain by requiring only one organic certification.