Recognition / Certification

In general, governments provide HACCP recognition, while independent external bodies provide certification. These certification bodies audit individual HACCP systems to verify that they meet standard requirements. Successful audits lead to certification. Certification leads to recognition.

There are three main parties involved in HACCP recognition:

• the government
• the certification body
• you, the operator.

The key responsibilities of government are defining the standards and recognizing certified systems. The HACCP Advantage Program Manual defines the standards of the Advantage Series of Food Safety Programs™; OMAFRA has designated and recognized the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) as the certification body for the Advantage Series of Food Safety Programs ™, and OMAFRA recognizes plants who have been certified by CGSB.

Certification bodies are responsible for auditing the HACCP system to ensure that it:

• meets the standards
• is implemented as written
• is effective in controlling food safety hazards.

Certification bodies provide written assurances of successful certification (usually in the form of a certificate) to the operators. In the case of the HACCP Advantage, CGSB will audit HACCP systems with respect to the standards defined in the HACCP Advantage Program Manual. Certification bodies also conduct annual audits for ongoing certification.

You, as the applicant and food processing operator, are responsible for developing and implementing an effective HACCP system specific to your facility. You must then maintain your system by:

• monitoring each prerequisite program
• monitoring and verifying each CCP
• keeping accurate records
• taking appropriate corrective actions when deviations are identified
• updating your system as needed.

Management is ultimately responsible for the effectiveness and accuracy of the HACCP system and its documentation.

Operators also have responsibilities during the certification process. If any non-conformances are found during auditing, it is your responsibility to effectively address these in a set time frame. You must also inform the certification body of any changes or updates to your HACCP system before the start of any subsequent audits.

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