Updated versions of the CanadaGAP Food Safety Manuals have now been released.
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Manual, Version 0
- Greenhouse Product Manual, Version 9.0
For certification purposes, the new manuals will take effect on April 1, 2021. A corresponding update to the CanadaGAP audit checklist will be issued before that date.
CanadaGAP is releasing Version 9.0 of the Food Safety Manuals early to enable program participants to align their traceability system with the Lot Code expectations in the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), which CFIA will begin enforcing on January 15, 2021. The requirements for Lot Code within the CanadaGAP Food Safety manuals are consistent with SFCR requirements.
Resources on the CanadaGAP Website
To help with the transition, the following resources can be found on the CanadaGAP website.
- Updated manuals (free download)
- Document outlining the main changes to the manuals
- Revisions documents tracking the changes from previous versions of the manuals
- Document summarizing commodity-specific differences
- Chart outlining which sections of the manual are applicable to different types of operations (i., production, packing, storing, repacking, wholesaling, brokerage)
Due to the early release of the manuals, other resource material including the fillable PDF versions of the manual, PowerPoint presentation on the main changes, and Spanish materials will be available in January. Program participants will also be receiving a detailed communication explaining how to update your manual.
CanadaGAP maintains seven separate generic HACCP models, which are available to members on the CanadaGAP website. Program participants may need to access the generic HACCP models in connection with demonstrating to CFIA their compliance with the requirements for hazard analysis within the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.
What are some of the main changes?
- A number of changes made to align with the Lot Code requirements in the SFCR (glossary, Section 17 and 22, Appendix M)
- Section 19: New sub-section added regarding supplier approval
- Operations enrolled in Option A1/A2 will not have to complete all the sub-sections within the manual (i.e., environmental monitoring program, supplier approval, food defense, allergens, food fraud, food safety culture). Those requirements are specific to GFSI-recognized certificates, and therefore will not apply to operations that are being certified to Option A1 or A2. The exceptions are indicated throughout the relevant sections of the manual, so it is clear to operations which sub-sections they can mark as “Not Applicable”.
The list above is not exhaustive; operations should refer to the revisions documents and main changes document found on the CanadaGAP website. Changes have been made to respond to user requests, to align with changes in government regulations and the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarking requirements, as well as to clarify interpretation of existing requirements.
If you have any questions, write to us at info@canadagap.ca or give us a call at 613-829-4711.