Food Bulletin - April 2012
Welcome to the April edition of the Food Bulletin. In this issue
we'll tell you about all sorts of training opportunities, from proper
food handling and designing an effective product shelf-life study
to creating a reliable system for appraising employee performance.
We also bring you news about a conference which will identify the
seven best practices of compliant exporters. We do our best to bring
you the latest knowledge, connections and resources that can help
your business thrive.
Update on how to register your agri-food
premises
Premises Identification Numbers can be obtained from the Provincial
Premises Registry (PPR) now operated by approved service provider
Angus GeoSolutions Inc. (AGSI). The PPR is the only official provincial
registry for obtaining Ontario Premises Identification Numbers for
agri-food businesses. Premises Identification numbers issued before
April 1, 2012 are still valid.
Obtaining a Premises Identification Number for your agri-food business
is an important step towards traceability in Ontario.
To register your premises or update your information, please contact
AGSI:
o Online: www.ontarioppr.ca
o By phone: 1-855-697-7743 (MY PPR ID)
New report on whole grain claims in the marketplace
A seven-page report
published by The Food Regulatory Issues Division (FRID) of Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) defines whole grains, allowable labelling
claims, examines market penetration, as well as opportunities for
promoting their health benefits. FRID is a resource for food and
beverage manufacturers, providing information that can impact investment,
innovation and competitiveness, particularly in relation to health
claims, novel foods and ingredients. For their latest information,
check out the FRID
section of AAFC's website. (Note that Health Canada has also
conducted a systematic review and analysis of the scientific evidence
for health claims with regard to whole grains and cardiovascular
disease and will soon publish a Summary of Assessment on
its website.)
Now able to trade-mark your company's sound
The Canadian
Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) published a Practice Notice
entitled "Trade-mark
Consisting of a Sound" which provides that, effective immediately,
CIPO will accept applications for the registration of sound marks.
Previously, they would only accept words and drawings. The new Practice
Notice resulted from an appeal by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
from the refusal of the Registrar to approve its application to
register as a trade-mark the sound of a roaring lion that is familiar
to movie goers and movie watchers. MGM won their case and can now
register their trade-mark sound. To learn more about trademarks
and criteria for trade-marking a sound, check out the Canadian
Intellectual Property Office's website.
Comment on proposed amendments to trade-mark regulations
Comments are open from now until April 23rd on proposed amendments
to the Trade-mark Regulations aimed at modernizing and simplifying
the administration of the trade-marks system to increase effectiveness
and reduce operational costs for business. Consultant document and
proposed amendments to the regulations are posted on the Canadian
Intellectual Property Office's website. To have your comments
reviewed and taken into consideration, please submit comments by
April 23 to the attention of Alison
Bunting.
Toronto Hydro incentives for GTA food and beverage processors
With an eye on reducing costs and increasing energy efficiency
for businesses, Toronto Hydro offers incentive programs which may
benefit GTA food and beverage processors. Incentives are offered
for initiatives such as energy audits, shifting energy use, energy-efficient
lighting, equipment upgrades, energy-efficient new construction
and major renovations. Click
here for eligibility details, benefits and detailed information
on these incentives.
Workshop in Designing a Shelf-Life Study
A product's best before date can most accurately be determined
by designing an effective shelf-life study. This kind of study provides
meaningful data for specific products when all the variables are
considered. In this workshop, delivered by the Ontario
Independent Meat Processors, participants will develop an understanding
of how to create and execute reliable, in-house shelf-life studies.
Click
here for more information. To register, email info@oimp.ca.
When: Wednesday April 18, 2012 - 1- 4 p.m.
Where: Guelph
Cost: OIMP members $75, non-members $125
Ontario Food Protection Association's spring meeting
The Ontario Food Protection Association's spring technical meeting
has two themes this year: 'New Technologies in Cleaning
and Monitoring', plus 'Hot Topics & Regulatory
Updates'. This day-long event will cover a variety of related
subjects, including improving sanitation practices, exploring decontamination
technologies, and identifying what food manufacturers need to know
about how their food products are handled or misused in the home.
Click here
for Agenda or Registration
form.
When: April 19, 2012, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Mississauga Convention Centre, Mississauga
Energy Management Planning seminar
This non-technical workshop will show you how to create and implement
an energy management plan for your organization. Part of Natural Resources
Canada's Dollars to $ense Energy Management Workshops, it will teach
you how to put together an energy management team, find savings, access
programs, build the framework for energy solutions, plus identify
characteristics of organization that lead to success. At the end of
it all, you'll take home an energy management plan template which
can help plan, create and track your energy saving strategies. Natural
Resources Canada's website outlines workshop details.
Registration and costs are accessible under the Workshop
Schedule selection.
When: Wednesday May 2, 2012
Where: Holiday Inn, Exeter St., London
Energy Efficiency Financing
This full-day workshop will help you build an effective finance-based
business case for your energy efficiency project. Part of Natural
Resources Canada's Dollars to $ense Energy Management Workshops, will
cover the ways to analyze your energy project, identify energy and
non-energy project benefits, calculate the financial value created
by energy efficiency projects and explain the basics of third-party
financing mechanisms such as energy performance contracting. At the
end of the day, you'll have the tools it takes to analyze energy projects
from an internal financing or a third-party financing perspective.
Natural Resources Canada's website outlines workshop details.
Registration and costs are accessible under the Workshop
Schedule selection.
When: Thursday, May 3, 2012
Where: Holiday Inn, Exeter St., London
May 6-8 - Baking Association of Canada - Bakery Showcase 2012
Join bakers both small and large, as well as suppliers and buyers
of baked goods for Canada's national baking trade show and convention
event. Held every other year, it is the LARGEST baking specific event
produced in Canada.
For more information and to register, visit www.bakingassoccanada.com.
When: May 6-8,2012
Where: International Centre, Hall 3, Mississauga
SIAL Canada exhibit costs supported by AAFC
The Canadian Food Exporters Association (CFEA), in partnership with
OMAFRA, is inviting you to exhibit at the SIAL
Canada show at the Palais Des Congrès in Montreal from
May 9-11, 2012. SIAL Canada is the Salon International de
l'Alimentation (International Food Expo). The event is one
of the industry's most important meeting places for North American
food industry professionals and hosts approximately 700 exhibitors
and 13,000 visitors from more than 60 countries over the course of
three days. Buyers at SIAL Canada are increasingly seeking out products
to meet the demands of their diverse and multi-ethnic clientele. Qualified
buyers specializing in distribution, retail and foodservice will be
in attendance, so the event represents an important opportunity to
meet and impress future customers. Advance
registration is required. Cost savings and partial reimbursement
for this event are also being offered through Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada's AgriMarketing Program. For more information, call Susan Powell
at CFEA at 416-445-3747 or email susanp@cfea.com.
When: May 9-11, 2012
Where: Palais Des Congrès, Montreal
I.E. Canada's 2nd Annual Ontario Regional Conference
Industry trends and the latest policy developments in customs and
trade will be the focus of this year's I.E.
Canada conference. Topics covered during this two-day event include
upcoming changes to export reporting, new trade program policies,
compliance verification and the seven best practices of compliant
traders. For a complete agenda, cost, or to register, check out I.E.
Canada's website. (Early bird I.E. member discount until April
15.) And for the latest trade industry news, check out I.E. Canada's
monthly I.E.
Now publication.
When: May 14-15
Where: Delta Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Centre, Mississauga
Product Costing and Accounting for Meat Businesses
This workshop provided by the Ontario
Independent Meat Processors (OIMP) will give participants the
ability to accurately determine a reasonable and appropriate cost
for products that are derived from the disassembly process poses a
significant challenge for manufacturers in the meat industry. Accurate
costing of these products is necessary in order to calculate margins.
This interactive workshop will educate the participants on how to
determine actual costs of the product manufactured and sold using
various costing methods that have been successfully used in the meat
industry. To register email info@oimp.ca.
When: Wednesday May 16, 2012 - 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Mississauga
Cost: OIMP members $75.00, non-members $125.00 +HST
SAVE THE DATE for these upcoming OIMP workshops!
June 15 Social Media
July 18 Allergen Control
August 15 Fermentation and Dry Curing
September 19 Automation to Positively Affect Your Bottom Line
October 17 How to Do a Mock Recall
November 21 Energy Conservation
May 27-29 CIFST conference: 'Innovation Meets Commercialization'
The Canadian
Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST) is holding
its 50th National Conference this May and this year it's in Niagara
Falls, Ontario. Industry, government, science and academia from
across Canada will converge to discuss this year's topic, 'Innovation
Meets Commercialization,' and how it impacts the industry. The conference
will address such questions as: what new research and development
is being conducted in North America and Canada, what are the current
challenges, what effect does awareness of current market and consumer
trends have? The May 29 exhibition will feature more than 100 exhibitors,
many of them food companies, food scientists and ingredients companies.
For more information, including conference fees, click
here to register online.
When: May 27-29, 2012
Where: Niagara Falls
Understanding GFSI workshop - May 29, 2012
Save the date for the Understanding GFSI workshop
taking place on May 29, 2012 at the Country Heritage Park in Milton.
The Understanding GFSI workshop will provide you
with key considerations to take into account if you are thinking about
implementing a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standard for your
company.
Participants to this event will hear:
- industry food safety and quality assurance experts discuss
the difference between the Global Food Safety and Quality Benchmarked
Standards: BRC, SQF, IFS and FSSC 22000 and what the certification
and auditing landscapes are like for the different standards
- Sobey's Director of Food Safety discuss the importance Sobey's
places on GFSI and how they are responding to their customers
food safety concerns
- what it took for two Ontario food companies to put their plant
through a GFSI certification process and why they did it
Staff from the Guelph Food Technology Centre and OMAFRA will be
available after the workshop presentations to talk one-on-one with
food companies on how to implement a food safety program in their
facility.
Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Country Heritage Park, Milton
Cost: $25.00 + HST includes continental breakfast and barbeque lunch
More information on this workshop and registration details will
be available shortly.
PROFIT New-to-Exporting Seminar
PROFIT, a two-day seminar organized by OMAFRA is a long-running and
highly successful export-focused program which will give you a solid
introduction to what's involved in exporting food and beverage products
to the U.S. The seminar, featuring over 15 speakers, is a hands-on
orientation covering the basic requirements for food and beverage
exporters. Topics include export financing, product labelling, U.S.
tax laws, U.S. food brokerage, U.S. food distribution, U.S. Food and
Drug regulations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. customs
brokerage. Export development services, provided by Ontario Food Exports,
will also be presented. Half a day will be spent in Toronto, then
participants will travel by motorcoach to Buffalo for the next day-and-a-half.
The cost includes the PROFIT GuideBook (containing all presentation
materials), round-trip transportation to Buffalo, accommodation in
Buffalo and all meals. Please note this seminar is offered only once
a year and is restricted to 25 participants. For more information,
or to register, call Jennifer Hannam at 519-826-3747 or email jennifer.hannam@ontario.ca.
When: June 5-6
Where: Toronto and Buffalo
Cost: $350 + HST
International Food Risk Analysis course
Offered by the University of Guelph's Department of Food Science,
this three-day course is designed to help food industry personnel
better understand how to assess, manage and communicate risks associated
with foods. It targets small to large-scale manufacturers, suppliers
and retailers, in particular production and quality assurance personnel
and retail supervisors. Topics covered include how to apply the
principles of risk assessment to evaluate the impact and likelihood
of biological, physical and chemical hazards, how to develop risk-management
strategies, make better decisions in uncertain conditions and how
to better communicate risk to suppliers and internal personnel.
For more information click
here to register online.
When: May 29, 30, 31
Where: University of Guelph
Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC)
EMC is Canada's largest
manufacturing consortium. The not-for-profit organization organizes
in excess of 1,000 hands-on industry events, including training
and networking opportunities.
'Logistics, Transportation and Border Opportunities'
This panel discussion will focus on improving product shipment
efficiency. Six guest panellists will make presentations on their
organizations, followed by discussion and questions. The event will
identify the hurdles to getting your product to the global marketplace,
opportunities to improve efficiency and the resources available
to help you succeed. The event, open to all food and beverage sector
companies, including those supplying manufactured product to the
industry, is an opportunity to network and learn from peers. It's
supported by EMC's food sector members and the Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. It's free, but pre-registration
is required. For more information click
here to register online or contact Bren de Leeuw, Senior Community
Development Manager at EMC, at 519-372-6009.
When: April 19, 2012
Where: Greenfield Ethanol, 141 Pirelli, Prescott, Ontario
Cost: Free
'Continuous Improvement Benchmarking'
Club Coffee LP will host a networking opportunity for those interested
in implementing continuous improvement benchmarking at this facility
in Rexdale. More details on this event will be posted on
EMC's
website in the near future.
When: April 26, 2012
Where: Club Coffee LP, Rexdale, Ontario
Cost: Free
'Manufacturing Line Optimization and Associate Engagement'
Rich Products of Canada Ltd. will host a special event for manufacturers
with an interest in continuous improvement initiatives. Check out
more details on this event being posted on EMC's
website in the near future.
When: May 17, 2012
Where: Rich Products of Canada Ltd., Fort Erie
Cost: Free
Partners in Project Green training options
Working to improve businesses' financial and environmental performance
through more efficient resource use, Partners
in Project Green offers a variety of training opportunities, including
online sustainability courses, customized courses and lunch-time seminars.
Examples of training sessions include:
Carbon
101 Reduction Program
Lean
and Green Workshop
ISO
14001 Made Simple
Follow
link for a list of upcoming events, costs and dates. For more
information, please contact Jennifer Taves at 416-661-6600 ext.
5570 or email jtaves@trca.on.ca.
Partners in Project Green recently introduced a new and improved
website in an attempt to provide better functionality, enhanced
sustainability opportunities and an expanded resource collection.
The revamped website presents a range of new features designed to
attract new partner organizations, facilitate more connections among
businesses, and make it even easier for companies to achieve their
sustainability goals.
Guelph Food Technology Centre (GFTC)
The GFTC is an independent organization
specializing in food and beverage safety, training, quality and
technical solutions. The centre offers a wide range of industry-recognized
courses and training
programs throughout the year.
