Terms & Conditions

2010 Guelph ‘Organic Expo Canada’
Terms & Conditions For Organic Exhibitor/Participants
January 28-31, 2010• Guelph University Centre
To all 2010 Organic Expo Canada exhibitors

October, 2009 – these conditions have been continually reviewed for several years. We have often been asked – “who is allowed to exhibit in this Trade Show” because some groups seemed non-compliant. Our challenge: to present a consistent image to the public. We are critically viewed by government organic food regulators, traders and consumers. Also, the Canada Organic Regulation came in at the end of June, 2009, placing a new onus on us, to represent “organics” fairly and clearly. Thus, we have tried to standardize the rules, helping us to communicate a consistent message to the world.

Our Committee sincerely appreciates all the support you have shown over the years to make this the leading grass-roots organic marketing show in Canada. This mid-winter melting pot is what it is because of your great products and services. Exhibitors also appreciate and respond to the intensity of our January crowd, with the informed questions posed by our farmers, organic traders and consumers.
However…….

ORGANIC COMPLIANCE IS DEMANDED – REGULATION IS LAW

Virtually all organic product exhibitors in our Expo have now moved to certified organic production and processing for their product lines. This is our goal for the Guelph Organic Expo: to have 100% of the food products in the Expo as “CERTIFIED ORGANIC” !

• Effective deadline: now. All Expo participants must comply.
• Products: if you are claiming a product to be ‘organic’…….. that product must be certified. Thus, “both the product and the processing have to be certified and the certifier’s name or applicable seal must be visible.” We require your certificate.
• Qualification: if your product is not certified or not certifiable in its current form, we reserve the right to exclude you from Organic Expo Canada. In the event that you do exhibit in the Expo with such transitional products, clear, explanatory signage must appear at your booth. For instance: “this product is not currently certified organic, though we have applied for certification. XX % of the raw ingredients used in the product are certified.” Anticipated certification date: ___
• Agricultural inputs: (used by certified organic farmers in organic food or fibre production) must be either listed with the Organic Materials Review Institute (www.omri.org) or listed and/or approved by an accredited organic certifier with applicable certificate clearly visible. We require your letter of approval or your certificate to show that your ag. input products are compliant. This is a serious matter which affects the certification of hundreds of growers present at the Expo.
• Non-registered, non-listed or non-certified agricultural inputs: are excluded from Organic Expo Canada. The Conference Committee
  will not risk potential liability caused by the use of non-listed products which could void a farmer’s certification.
• Fair trade: must also be certified organic or show a clear time line for certification.
• Seeds: seed producers, handlers or vendors must either be selling certified organic seeds; or, must be certified as a trading enterprise. Or alternatively, they must provide a statement outlining their transitional status with a firm date for certification. If you sell only untreated seed, we must exclude you from the Expo unless you have a tangible and verifiable reason for maintaining this status.

Small seed vendors/packers please note: economical organic certification for smaller enterprises in Canada is available through one or more certifiers. Small vendors who previously appeared in this Trade Show have already applied for certification.

• Hemp:
  certified organic hemp products are widely available. We insist that all hemp products be certified or that you give us a statement and clear time-line indicating your certification plans. Hemp marketing companies cannot be exempt from certified organic product status for this Expo.
• Wildcrafting:
  within the ‘certified’ category, we must know what wildcrafting practices you follow and which certifier supervises your operation. If your handling, blending, mixing, etc. is not certified, please send a statement on how and when you plan to get certified. Approval to exhibit is on a case-by-case basis.
• Other organic categories: the Committee monitors other significant categories within the Canadian federal organic regulations: textiles/cotton, cosmetics, soaps, retailers, restaurants, etc. Approval to exhibit is on a case-by-case basis.
• Trade associations, services or groups not having an apparent relationship to organics: every year, we are asked to accept groups whose link to organics is marginal. Please draft a policy statement confirming your relationship to organic foods, organic farming, organic processing, etc. and transmit it right away if you want to be in the 2010 Organic Expo. For instance: “as a professional association, we support the promotion of organic foods as a way to enhance human nutrition…”

Feel free to call me at your convenience. Or, please express your ideas, concerns and/or opinions in writing, which will be transmitted to our board for review.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and vision in helping us transform the Conference into a leading focus for organics in Canada.

Sincerely and organically yours…

Tomás Nimmo Guelph Conference Manager (705) 444-0923

Click here to download the Terms & Conditons in pdf format.