Ontario Canada Agricultural Policy Framework
Food Safety and Quality

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Funding: Canada - $39.75 million; Ontario - $40 million

Canada and Ontario have a strong food safety track record, but our systems must be continually strengthened. We need to modernize the way we assess food safety in order to maintain high standards of public safety, and to maintain and increase domestic and international market share. Over the years, eating habits have changed, different types of food are available and more widely distributed, and there are newly identified food hazards. To remain competitive in the marketplace, the agri-food sector must meet the demands of consumers and other buyers, both domestically and internationally, for higher levels of food safety and quality.

Developments in science and technology enhance the safety of our food by identifying potential hazards and minimizing risks from farm to retail. The specific initiatives of the Canada-Ontario APF Implementation Agreement will encourage the adoption of these new technologies by the agri-food industry.

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Food Safety

We must encourage the development of food safety systems, recognized by government, that can identify and address critical points along the agri-food chain. The governments have agreed to complete the design of a national recognition system for on-farm food safety programs and to expand government recognition to other sectors in the food chain, as requested. A total of $31.17 million -- $11.72 million from the federal government and $19.45 million from the provincial government - will be directed toward these initiatives.

Ontario will:

• contribute to on-farm food safety and surveillance programs, livestock medicine and animal health education and certification programs, and grower pesticide education and certification.
• develop a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) strategy for the province's non-federally registered food processing sector.
• update and modernize legislative and regulatory programs to meet national standards.
• develop an integrated food safety information technology infrastructure to support the delivery of a wide range of standards-based food safety services.
• assist with the development of a GIS-enabled database to facilitate traceability.
• support food safety risk assessments, baselines and research.

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Canada will:

• contribute to the systems development component of the Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program, which is designed to facilitate industry adoption of HAACP-based food safety systems.
• support the introduction and demonstration of food safety approaches in Ontario in the areas of HACCP for non-federally registered food processors and surveillance programs.

The governments have also agreed to enhance food safety and public health safety surveillance systems in each respective government's jurisdiction, as well as conduct an inventory and analysis of existing information gathering and dissemination systems. As part of this process, Ontario will undertake baseline studies to establish benchmark values for on-farm food safety concerns.

Both governments will work towards improving the legislative framework and decision-making process for food safety, including outcome-based national standards and legislative harmonization, with the intent of amending their respective legislation by the end of the implementation period.

The Food Safety Initiative (FSI) is one component of the Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program, and through it Ontario will receive federal funding to help the agri-food industry maintain its high standards in food safety. For more information on the Food Safety Initiative, click here.

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Food Quality

In order to promote international acceptance of Canadian products and to meet market requirements and consumer demands, Canada will provide $3.82 million to assist stakeholder organizations develop and implement quality process control systems for agricultural commodities and food and beverage products. Where appropriate, technical assistance and government recognition will also be offered.

Traceability

Traceability systems throughout the agri-food sector simplify the implementation of standards, help ensure those standards are being met, and provide a tool to recall products if necessary. A total of $22.46 million will be provided -- $14.21 million from Canada and $8.25 million from Ontario -- to:

• assist with the development of data management standards for traceability systems, and
• support the development of traceability systems throughout the agri-food chain.
  

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Research for Food Safety and Food Quality

Ontario will provide $12.25 million for food safety research, with $5.25 million devoted to identifying and analysing emerging hazards and contaminants, improving testing methods, and managing and controlling food safety risks. Another $7 million will be devoted to risk assessments, food research and the collation of baseline data. Being able to identify food safety hazards or practices at any given point along the food chain will result in better food safety programs and more effective risk management strategies.

For more information:

Andrea Martin
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
(519) 826-4182
Andrea.Martin@omaf.gov.on.ca

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