Specialty Cheese Production

In recent years, reports on growth of sales in the specialty cheese category across Canada have been encouraging for that sector of the dairy industry. Included in the category are goat, sheep and buffalo milk products.

Starting in 2004 under the leadership of Petra Cooper of Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company, a working group laid the foundation and the artisan-focused Ontario Cheese Society (now the Canadian Cheese Society) was born.

Part of OCS's advice to new entrants is to contact the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food for regulatory requirements and business development assistance. Two key resources are available online:

Cheesemaking Information Bundle - A one-stop website for information about starting a cheesemaking business. You'll find information about the industry, an overview of regulatory requirements and the licensing process, and tips on accessing business advice.

Starting a Food or Beverage Processing Business in Ontario - A comprehensive resource for anyone starting or expanding a food processing business in the province. The guide:

• explores business issues specific to the food processing industry
• provides guidelines for food safety, quality assurance and government regulations
• contains contacts and online links for additional resources

Food Inspection Branch's Dairy Food Safety Program is your key source for regulatory requirements and licensing of dairy processors in Ontario. Currently, the Milk Act (Ontario) governs the production and processing of goat and cow milk products in Ontario. Goat and cow milk products that will be sold to the public must be made in facilities that are licensed by OMAFRA's Food Inspection Branch.

All goat and cow milk processors, including on-farm processors, are required to meet the requirements of, and be licensed under, the Milk Act. Under that Act, you are required to contact the Director before constructing a new dairy processing facility or renovating an existing facility. Milk Act regulations will remain in effect until new regulations are developed and implemented under the Food Safety and Quality Act.

Sheep and other types of milk products are also governed under Ontario's Food Safety and Quality Act, so new entrants into the sheep milk processing business should also contact FIB, as well as their local Public Health Unit, for advice. The Public Health Units have jurisdiction anywhere that food being offered for sale is made, e.g.- restaurants, retail deli counters, food vendor carts, caterers, and otherwise unregulated processing facilities (such as sheep milk processors, bakeries, etc).

Related Links

• Candian Dairy Council - Grants and information for cheesemakers using cow milk
• Dairy Farmers of Ontario
• Ontario Dairy Sheep Association
• Ontario Goat Milk Producers' Association
• Cheesemaking Technology course at the University of Guelph