Get Advantage Certified

There are three steps or levels to the Advantage Series of Food Safety Programs™ for food processors:

1. Advantage GMP
2. Advantage HACCP
3. Advantage HACCP Plus

You can apply at each level for certification from the Canadian General Standards Board, (CGSB) a division of Public works and Government Services Canada. The Board is an independent external body.

Steps to Becoming an Advantage Certified Facility:

Before applying for certification:

1. Develop, document, implement and maintain one of the Advantage Series of Food Safety Programs™
2. Have the Advantage program fully operational for at least three months. It is also recommended that you conduct an internal audit to confirm the Advantage program is complete and operating effectively.
3. CGSB conducts a Certification Audit. This includes a review of the entire Advantage program including:
   • an audit of documented GMP programs and/or HACCP plan(s). The audit is to ensure
     - you have addressed all the required components
     - each component meets or exceeds Advantage requirements.
   • an in-plant audit (including observations, inspections and interviews) to verify
     - you are implementing the Advantage program as written
     - the program is meeting the requirements of the chosen Advantage program

     CGSB bases its review on the standards defined in the Advantage HACCP Program Manual.
     

If you pass the audit, CGSB will send you a certificate. Once you are certified, the Ontario government officially recognizes your Advantage program.

What happens after I'm certified?

Advantage certification is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process. Every three years, your facility will receive a full Advantage program audit. In the years in between, you will receive partial surveillance audits to ensure your facility continues to meet Advantage program requirements.

You must maintain your Advantage program by:

• monitoring each required program and each critical control point
• keeping accurate records
• taking appropriate corrective actions if you identify any problems
• updating your program as needed.

Year 2 and 3: Surveillance audit

Includes a document review and in-plant audit of selected portions of the Advantage program including:

• corrective actions taken as a result Corrective Action Requests issued during the prior audit
• any Advantage program changes since the prior audit
• checks on selected GMP and HACCP Plans Critical Control Points

You (or your company's managers) are ultimately responsible for the effectiveness and accuracy of the HACCP system and its documentation.

To apply for certification

Contact the Canadian General Standards Board
Phone: 819-956-5740
Email: NCR-HACCP@pwgsc.gc.ca

Learn more

• What logos can I display once I am Advantage certified?
• Which Ontario food safety leaders are Advantage certified?
• Advantage Grain for the Grain Industry
  
  

For more information:
Toll Free: 1-866-641-3663
E-mail: advantage@ontario.ca