2000
2000
The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC)—the national industry association for fruit and vegetable producers—began developing the On-Farm Food Safety (OFFS) Guidelines in response to the need of its members to demonstrate due diligence in food safety.
2002-2008
2002-2008
The CHC established eight commodity-specific On-Farm Food Safety Working Groups to complete commodity-specific hazard analyses. The HACCP models and user manuals were submitted to representatives from the federal and provincial governments for review. The CHC Food Safety Committee and a Technical Review Steering Committee oversaw the process as each module proceeded through the official government technical review process. Task Groups were set up in 2007 to develop the certification system and audit protocols. All of the work was overseen by the CHC Food Safety Committee.
2005
2005
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association completed the first version of the Repacking and Wholesale Food Safety Program, which had been developed and piloted through a similar process to that undertaken by the CHC for the primary production sector.
2008
2008
The CanadaGAP® certification program was launched by the CHC, and the eight crop groupings were consolidated into six generic HACCP models and six OFFS manuals.
2010
2010
CanadaGAP became to first Canadian food safety program to be officially recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) for certification options B and C.
A formal study was undertaken on feasibility of merging CanadaGAP and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Repacking and Wholesale Food Safety Program (RWFSP) to create a single integrated standard and a standalone not-for-profit corporation. The study concluded this was a feasible initiative and in 2012 members of both organizations made a final decision to proceed with merging the two programs. This course of action was recommended to limit potential exposure to liability associated with administering a food safety program.
2012
2012
The six CanadaGAP manuals were consolidated into two manuals (Fruit and Vegetable and Greenhouse) while six generic HACCP models are still maintained.
CanadaGAP became an independently operated program under a not-for-profit corporation called CanAgPlus. All participants enrolled in the CanadaGAP Program became eligible for membership of CanAgPlus as of November 1. An interim Board of Directors was appointed, with the first elected Board to be chosen by members during CanAgPlus’s first Annual General Meeting in 2014.
2013
2013
Work was completed on integrating the Repacking and Wholesale requirements into the CanadaGAP program. A separate generic HACCP model for repacking and wholesaling is still maintained.
2014
2014
Option D was launched on April 1, enabling repackers and wholesalers to obtain CanadaGAP certification in response to customer requirements.
2015
2015
CanadaGAP now publishes and maintains a list of CanadaGAP-certified companies on the website.
CanadaGAP adds requirements and offers certification for brokerage of fresh fruits and vegetables.
2016
2016
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) announces recognition of CanadaGAP Option D for Repacking and Wholesaling scopes.
2017
2017
CanadaGAP achieves full Canadian Government Recognition and is considered a “model system” for meeting federal regulatory requirements.
2018
2018
Re-benchmarking to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Version 7.1 was completed in June 2018.
2019
2019
Re-benchmarking to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Version 7.2 was completed in August 2019.
2021
2021
Re-benchmarking to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Version 2020 was completed.
2022
2022
CanadaGAP launches two new certification options (not GFSI-recognized) – Option E & Option F.