Key Elements of the Program

• Standardized product sampling
• Uniform laboratory testing
• Appropriate product attributes and usage guidelines

Benefits of the Program

• ability to select the right compost for the right use

• supports regulatory compliance
• enhances compost market development
• builds industry credibility and reputation

How the CQA Program Works:

• open to all compost producers
• focused on product versus process
• participants follow prescribed sampling frequency and reporting methods
• annual licensing arrangement to use CQA logo on packaging and product promotion
• CQA program managed by the Composting Council of Canada and marketed by both the CCC as well as CQA licensees

The Specifics:

• compost facility signs up to be part of Compost Quality Alliance
• frequency of product testing based on annual production volume (Table 1)

• product samples submitted to CQA-accredited laboratory
• product testing involves regulatory requirements as well as agronomic parameters
• lab results reported back to compost producer and the Composting Council of Canada
• product attributes to be communicated on an ongoing basis to product users in a prescribed manner (Table 2)
















• if the compost product sample fails to meet analytical requirements, producer has the right to rework and resubmit for further testing. Inability to achieve satisfactory analytical results would lead to non-compliance.
• annual license timeframe: September 1^st - August 31^st
• annual licensee fee: $700 for CCC members; $1,000 for non-members
  (each licensee is also responsible for the costs of lab testing)

About the CQA laboratory accreditation program:

Participating CQA-laboratories across Canada and the United States are involved in the CAP (Compost Analysis Proficiency) program, a laboratory quality assurance program to calibrate procedures and evaluate inter-lab method performance. The Test Methods for Examination of Composting and Compost (TMECC) forms the basis of the analytical test methods. CAP is administered by Dr. Robert Miller of Colorado State University.