Food safety and traceability support available for British Columbia producers

October 7, 2016 – Victoria, British Columbia – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture

The Governments of Canada and British Columbia (B.C.) are providing up to $1.6 million over two years to support B.C.'s agri-food producers' efforts to enhance on-farm food safety practices and meet emerging national and international food safety traceability requirements.

B.C.'s On Farm Food Safety and Traceability Program offers eligible B.C. agri-food businesses cost-shared funding to:

Conduct food safety and traceability assessments to identify and document risks, issues and opportunities to improve food safety and traceability capacity, systems and practices;

• Access training to increase the food safety and traceability expertise of their staff; and
• Implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Best Practices (BPs) and recognized Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety practices and traceability systems in their operations.

The program targets on-farm agri-businesses producing food for human consumption and businesses seeking first-time certification in internationally recognized HACCP-based food safety assurance programs. B.C. companies that use recognized food safety and traceability standards and implement food safety and traceability systems effectively manage food safety risk, create opportunities to access new markets, and increase sales.

Quick Facts

• 2015 was a record year for B.C.'s agri-food industry with revenues topping $13 billion for the first time, and exports reaching $3.5 billion, the highest ever.
• The program is funded through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative that provides a $3-billion investment over five years in innovation, competitiveness and market development.

Additional links

• On-Farm Food Safety and Traceability Program
• Growing Forward 2 programs in British Columbia
• Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Contacts

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
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Media Relations
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
250-356-1674