The CHC is pleased to announce the CanadaGAP (On-Farm Food Safety) Program certification options B and C have now been successfully benchmarked against the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements.
GFSI approval means CanadaGAP is recognized as equivalent to other GFSI-benchmarked food safety programs for the primary production sector, such as SQF 1000, GlobalGAP (food safety elements only) and PrimusGFS, which many buyers require, both in Canada and abroad. The CanadaGAP scheme has been recognized by GFSI for certification options B and C and the recognition covers the common food safety requirements that run through the six different commodity specific modules.
This recognition will allow farmers who are certified to CanadaGAP to remain competitive and have continued access to markets, which are increasingly demanding that companies implement a recognized food safety program.
The benchmarking process was completed using an internationally accepted set of food safety requirements, based on industry best practice and sound science, which are developed through a consensus building process by key stakeholders in the food supply chain. These requirements can be found in the GFSI Guidance Document Version 5, which is available for download at
www.mygfsi.com.
“The current widespread use of this scheme in Canada...will contribute significantly to driving the enhancement of food safety in the supply chain,” said Jürgen Matern, chairman of the GFSI Board and vice president of strategic quality management for Metro AG.