B.C. food safety program is good for business

Vancouver – A new program from the B.C. Food Processors Association (BCFPA) will help ensure foods produced in the province are among the safest both nationally and internationally.

The program, which launched in October, is called Post-Farm Food Safety (PFFS) and it encourages agri-businesses to adopt:

• best practices;
• Good Manufacturing Practices; and
• recognized HACCP-based food safety assurance systems in their operations.

“The Post Farm Food Safety Program is a great opportunity for both large and small processors across B.C. to improve and upgrade their facility’s food safety practices and systems,” James Donaldson, BCFPA’s CEO.

“The BCFPA is pleased to be offering and managing a program that will further enhance B.C.’s reputation for safe processed food products.”

The program is designed to assess processors’ current food safety management systems and develop plans to improve those systems.

The program will also provide funds for food safety improvements in a facility for items such as employee training and new equipment that will help processors move toward and achieve HACCP and other certifications.

The BCFPA says the program will increase the marketability of B.C. food products.

Eligible companies include federally or provincially registered businesses with an active GST number, based and operating in B.C. and who have not previously been certified in a recognized food safety assurance system, such as:

• Post-farm agri-businesses (processors, transporters, warehouses, distributors, packagers, importers, exporters) that handle food for consumption;
• Processing facilities (beyond basic washing, grading and packaging) located on a farm premise and not covered by a certified post-farm food safety program; and
• First Nations post-farm agri-businesses with a Health Canada site license.

For more on the program and application details, click here.