On Friday January 6, 2006, the Farmers' Markets Food Safety Working Group (the "Working Group") submitted its final report, Recommendations to Ensure Food Safety at Ontario's Farmers' Markets to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). The report includes 10 recommendations for addressing issues associated with food safety and compliance with public health regulations and standards at farmers' markets and other temporary food markets in Ontario.

The Working Group included representatives of Farmers' Markets Ontario, the Association of Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors of Ontario, the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors, several Public Health Units, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and MOHLTC.

This report can be accessed in English and French below :

• Recommendations to Ensure Food Safety at Ontario's Farmers' Markets  [PDF]
• Recommandations visant à assurer la salubrité des aliments dans les marchés de producteurs de l'Ontario  [PDF]

The Ministry is currently reviewing the Working Group report and its recommendations (found on page 9 of the report). The Ministry has already begun to address Recommendation 5 by establishing a multistakeholder Working Group to prepare guidance material related to farmers' markets.

As a part of its review of the recommendations, the Ministry is seeking input and advice from stakeholders including :

• Concerns or issues associated with some or all of the report's recommendations.
• Advice on whether and / or how the Ministry might address the report's recommendations.

All stakeholders interested in providing input on the recommendations to the Ministry should fill out the attached feedback form and return it by Monday March 6, 2006 via :

• email :
  foodsafety@moh.gov.on.ca
• fax :
  416-327-0984
• mail :
  Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care,
  Food Safety and Safe Water Unit
  5700 Yonge Street, 8th Floor
  Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4K5

Please use the subject heading "Farmers' Markets Feedback Form."

The Ministry will review and consider all comments submitted by March 6, 2006. The names of those who submit comments will be confidential and will not be released.

The feedback form is available below :

FORM Farmers' Markets Feedback Form Word format english  |  french

FORM Farmers' Markets Feedback Form PDF format english  |  french

REPORT Recommendations to Ensure Food Safety at Ontario's Farmers' Markets PDF format 10 pages english  |  french

To view PDF format files, you need to have Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer.    You can download this free software from the Adobe Web site.

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