CanadaGAP to offer two new certification options

Option A2: for Individual Companies

Option A2 is similar to the previously available CanadaGAP Certification Option “A” (which will be renamed Option A1).

For a facility to be certified to the program in the first year the operator must successfully complete a full on-site audit. Annually for the next three (3) years, the operator completes a self-declaration and self-assessment checklist and submits it to the Certification Body. Randomly selected farms will be chosen for an on-site audit during Years 2, 3, 4.

What is different about Option A2? If a program participant is selected for a random audit, the scheduled audit date will be extended to four years from the random audit date. (In Option A1, scheduled audits occur every four years regardless of whether a random audit has occurred.)

The variable four-year cycle could result in audit cost savings to producers enrolled in Option A2.

Option A3: Group Certification

Option A3 combines Group Certification with elements of the four-year audit cycle.

Similar to the existing Group Certification Option B, producers can be certified to the CHC OFFS Program by organizing themselves as a Group and running their own food safety management system.  The Group’s internal audit programme must cover all member sites over a four-year period. Certified members must submit self-declarations and self-assessment checklists to the Group Management in the intervening years. Every three years, the Group must undergo a third-party (Certification Body) audit of the Group Management System, including sampling of central sites and internally audited members.

The new certification options were created at the request of some customers in the domestic market. Before enrolling in CanadaGAP and choosing a certification option, it is important that producers and packers check with their customer(s) to confirm acceptance of the various CanadaGAP certification options.