The federal government has created a new logo for organic foods that have been tested and certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The logo will be displayed only on food certified as meeting Canadian standards for organic production, such as using natural fertilizers and raising animals in conditions that mimic nature.

Canada Organic logo

To qualify for the logo, certified products must also contain at least 95 per cent organic ingredients. As of December 2008, it will be mandatory for all organic products to be certified for domestic and international trade.

The logo, unveiled Friday, is part of new federal regulations announced late last year.

Ottawa also hopes the regulations will give Canada a competitive edge in food exporting. More than 40 other countries worldwide already have regulations governing certification.

Penelope Marrett of the Canada Health Food Association, Canada's largest trade association representing the organics sector, says the new logo will increase consumer confidence.

"The new logo is a visual reminder to consumers that Canada has a set of regulatory standards," she said.

The Canadian organic food industry has been growing by 15 to 20 per cent per year over the past decade. It's now a billion-dollar industry that has moved from small specialty shops to the country's largest supermarket chains.

With files from the Canadian Press