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On-Farm Food Safety Recognition Program - Introduction

On-Farm Food Safety Recognition Program | Process | Tracking Charts | Updates and Announcements | Contacts | Links | National Producer Organization OFFSP Management System

During the annual federal, provincial and territorial agriculture minister's meeting in Whitehorse in June 2001, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was identified to lead a process, with provincial and territorial participation, to provide government recognition for industry-developed on-farm food safety programs. The On-Farm Food Safety Recognition Program is a key program in support of the "Food Safety and Food Quality" element of the Agricultural Policy Framework, formally announced by the Honourable Minister Lyle Vanclief in June, 2002.

The On-Farm Food Safety Recognition Program is one part of a world-leading agricultural program, involving small-to-large-scale farmers and producers, the Canadian agriculture industry and all levels of government.

Growing safe food and protecting it from hazards on the farm before it passes through the farm gate is the primary focus of on-farm food safety programs. Now in various stages of development and implementation by Canada's national producer organizations, government-recognized on-farm food safety programs are technically based on the internationally accepted food safety control system called Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). Government recognition of HACCP-based on-farm food safety programs may enhance Canada's domestic and international reputation as a leader in food safety and quality. This, in turn, could mean expanded markets for Canadian products.

Responding to food safety concerns of consumers as well as foreseen international trade requirements, on-farm food safety programs have been in development by Canada's national producer organizations since 1997. The Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Program provides national producer organizations with the opportunity to develop strategies and tools to educate producers and to implement the programs. The Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Program is administered by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and is funded through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Canadian Food Safety and Food Quality Program.

The CFIA recognition process is a multi-party examination of the technical soundness and administrative effectiveness of on-farm food safety programs. Review teams are comprised of federal, provincial and territorial commodity specialists. This review and assessment process aims to determine that the national delivery of an on-farm food safety program conforms to the producer organization's written procedures and is delivered in a consistent manner.The programs are also assessed against federal and provincial / territorial regulatory requirements.

Under the national producer organization's conformance system, individual producer implementation of on-farm food safety programs is assessed by on-farm auditors. The overall conformance system is then assessed by a third-party audit service, accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and independently contracted by the national producer organization.

The On-Farm Food Safety Recognition Program is a section of the Policy and Strategies Division of the Food Safety Directorate.