CanadaGAP®, an internationally recognized food safety program for fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers, has successfully achieved recognition against the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Version 7.1 benchmarking requirements.
The recognition encompasses three CanadaGAP certification options: B, C, and D (for repacking and wholesaling).
Heather Gale, Executive Director, comments that “CanadaGAP appreciates the rigour of the GFSI benchmarking process. GFSI recognition of CanadaGAP provides the fruit and vegetable industry the option to implement a made-in-Canada program that meets GFSI’s high standard and satisfies the food safety requirements of customers in domestic and international markets.”
Jack Bates, Chair of the Board for CanadaGAP, adds that “GFSI recognition will allow CanadaGAP-certified companies to remain competitive and maintain access to customers who require certification to a GFSI-recognized food safety program.”
Scope of GFSI Recognition
CanadaGAP has been GFSI-recognized for certification options B and C since 2010. Option D (for repacking and wholesaling) was originally recognized by GFSI in 2016. Re-benchmarking is required each time GFSI updates its benchmarking requirements.
Recognition of the three CanadaGAP certification options has once again been granted for the following GFSI scopes:
- BI – Farming of Plants
- D – Pre-process Handling of Plant Products (includes packing/repacking and related activities such as cooling, trimming, grading, washing, storage, etc.).
About the GFSI Benchmarking Process
Benchmarking is a procedure by which a food safety certification program is compared to the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements. The process is designed to be executed in an independent, unbiased, technically proficient and transparent manner. A program is ‘recognized’ by GFSI when it has been verified that it meets internationally recognised minimum food safety criteria for the technical standard and for the certification system, as described in the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements document. An independent benchmark leader, supported by the GFSI Technical Manager, assesses whether the application meets GFSI requirements, followed by a public consultation period that is open to all GFSI Stakeholders. The benchmark leader and GFSI Technical Manager then make a recommendation to the GFSI Board regarding recognition of the program.
Background:
About CanadaGAP
CanadaGAP® is a food safety program consisting of standards and a certification system for the safe production and handling of fresh fruits and vegetables. Two manuals, one specific to greenhouse operations, the second for other fruit and vegetable operations, have been developed by the horticultural industry and reviewed for technical soundness by Canadian government officials. The manuals are designed for companies implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in their fruit and vegetable production, packing and storage operations; for repackers and wholesalers implementing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and HACCP programs; and for produce brokers following supplier management and traceability best practices. The manuals are based on a rigorous hazard analysis applying the seven principles of the internationally-recognized HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) approach.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the CanadaGAP office at infocanadagap.ca or 613-829-4711.