Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program
Food Safety Initiative

Delivering safe, high-quality food at home and abroad
Through the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF), federal, provincial and territorial governments have committed themselves to work together to help the agriculture and agri-food sector manage their risks and be more competitive and profitable. The Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program is a key part of the APF that will enhance Canada's reputation as a producer of safe, high-quality food products.

The Food Safety Initiative
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.

Initially, the FSI will provide assistance for non-federally registered food processing plants to enhance their food safety systems by developing and implementing food safety programs such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and/or Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs.

Eligibility
To be eligible for assistance under the Food Safety Initiative you must be:

• An Ontario food processing plant involved in producing food or drink for human consumption;
  
• A non-federally registered plant; and
  
• Licensed to operate in Ontario if licensing is required.

Systems for non-food products, including pet foods, are not eligible under this program. Fish and shellfish are not eligible for funding.

Some examples of eligible costs include:

• Development, implementation and/or maintenance of GMPs and/or a HACCP program, including:
  
  • consultant fees for development and implementation of your program;
    
  • staff costs directly related to development and/or maintenance of your program (e.g., wages for HACCP Coordinator);
    
  • materials and supplies for GMPs or HACCP plans or manuals;
    
  • technical assistance to prepare for the recognition audit.
    
• Related scientific testing;
  
• Related staff training costs;
  
• Costs for rental or lease of facilities or equipment related to food safety program implementation;
  
• GMP/HACCP audit and certification costs.

Capital costs and equipment purchases are not eligible under the Food Safety Initiative.

Assistance levels
Under the APF, governments will contribute 90 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $15,000 for implementation of GMPs and $20,000 for implementation of GMPs and one HACCP plan.

Plants are eligible for an additional $3,000 per HACCP plan for up to a maximum of three additional HACCP plans per plant.

Deadline
Funding is limited and will be made available on a first come, first served basis up to March 31, 2008.
Funding for the Food Safety Initiative is made available under the Agricultural Policy Framework, a Federal-Provincial-Territorial initiative to make Canada a world leader in food safety and food quality.

RELATED LINKS

• Food Safety Initiative Application Form
  
  
• Program Guidelines
  
  

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