Food Safety Program Helps British Columbia Companies Expand Markets

News Release

October 17, 2014 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture

A $1.7 million food safety program funded by the governments of Canada and British Columbia will help B.C. food processors reach new markets locally, across Canada and around the world, MP Wai Young and MLA Scott Hamilton announced today.

The Post-Farm Food Safety Program is being delivered by the BC Food Processors Association and encourages businesses to adopt internationally-recognized food safety programs such as the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system.

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. This will increase the marketability of B.C. food products domestically and internationally.

Quick Facts

Food and natural health product processing is British Columbia’s largest manufacturing sector, with about $8 billion in annual sales and more than 30,000 employees.
The BC Food Processors Association has more than 130 members that produce thousands of products - everything from baked goods, beverages (including beer, coffee, and wine), dairy, meat and seafood, natural health, fruit and vegetable products to ethnic specialties and pet food.
The Association’s members use ingredients from B.C. farmers and food processors and, when not available locally, they source from other locations in Canada and different parts of the world.
The food and beverage processing sector employs close to 21% of British Columbia’s manufacturing workforce.
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:
- 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.
The Post-Farm Food Safety Program is funded under Growing Forward 2, a five-year agreement launched in 2013 that provides a $3-billion, federal-provincial-territorial government investment in innovation, competitiveness and market development.

Quotes

“Commitment to food safety plays an important role in making Canada a world leader in producing high quality food products. This program will help industry meet growing consumer expectations and will enhance the competitiveness of the industry overall.”
- Wai Young, Member of Parliament for Vancouver South

“B.C. food products are chosen as trusted sources of nutrition by families locally and in markets around the world. Local businesses, the BCFPA and the Governments of B.C. and Canada have worked hard to establish that reputation, and extending food safety programs to more local companies furthers our collective efforts for B.C. foods to be enjoyed with confidence.”
- Scott Hamilton Member of the Legislative Assembly (Delta North, British Columbia)

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

Additional Links

Media Contacts

Emily Hogeveen
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

Government Communications and Public Engagement
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
250-356-1674

BC Food Processors Association
604-504-4409
info@postfarmfoodsafety.ca

Search for related information by keyword

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agriculture

Page details

2016-12-14

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

Food Safety Program Helps British Columbia Companies Expand Markets

News Release

Page details