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 (BCFPA) 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.

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.

Companies looking for more information on the program should contact the BCFPA at 604 504-4409 or: info@postfarmfoodsafety.ca

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:

Wai Young, Member of Parliament for Vancouver South -

“Our 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.”

Delta North MLA Scott Hamilton, on behalf of B.C. Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick -

“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.”

James Donaldson, CEO, BCFPA -

“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.”

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.

Learn More:

Program information and application details: http://postfarmfoodsafety.ca/

The BC Food Processors Association: www.bcfpa.ca

For information on federal Growing Forward 2 programs, visit: www.agr.gc.ca/GrowingForward2

Information on Growing Forward 2 programs in British Columbia is available at: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=EB8322DE53664C7289317829FA25360E

Media Contacts:

Emily Hogeveen
Press Secretary
The 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

Government Communications and Public Engagement
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
250 356-7098

James Donaldson
CEO, BC Food Processors’ Association
604 418-1361