IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Industry-led Programs: An Overview

The Canadian Approach to Food Safety

Symposium – S03

International Association for Food Protection

Calgary, Alberta

14 August 2006

Dawn Lawrence, National Co-ordinator, CQATM

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Presentation Outline

• Key Characteristics• Industry-led Food Safety Programs• Government Initiatives• Supply Chain Collaboration• Conclusions

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Why Industry-Based Food Safety Programs?

• Four major drivers

• Consumer concerns

• Government initiatives

• Customer demands

• Competitor’s actions

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Canadian Approach to Food Safety

• Key Characteristics• Comprehensive Approach• Science-based Tools • Supply Chain Collaboration• Industry/Government Partnerships• National Initiatives

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Industry-led Programs- Where do they fit?

• Registered establishments (e.g. processing facilities for fish, livestock, poultry, dairy) – regular inspection by Federal, Provincial or Territorial governments

• Non-registered establishments – most of the rest of food chain from farms to final marketers

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Based on Industry Leadership

• Farmers started the ball • 1990/95 – various commodity based

initiatives• 1996 - national consensus achieved• 1997 - producers & government establish

Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Program

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

On-Farm Programs

• 30 Commodity-specific programs in development or being implemented• Livestock (8) - hogs, cattle, dairy, sheep, bison, cervids

(deer/elk), veal & goats• Poultry (6) - hatching eggs, hatcheries, table eggs (2),

chickens & turkeys• Horticulture (12) - fresh fruits/vegetables*, sprouts,

mushrooms & herbs/spices• Grains, oilseeds, pulses & special crops (1)• Honey• Aquaculture (2) – finfish & shellfish

*Horticulture subprograms: general; potatoes; bulb & root; leafy vegetables; tree & vine fruit; small fruit; fruiting vegetables; asparagus, sweet corn & legumes; greenhouse production

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Pre & Post Farmgate HACCP or HACCP-based Programs• Feed mills• Trucking• Grain elevators• Railways• Food Distribution &

storage• Fresh produce

packers & distributors• Bottled Water

• Ice• Packaging Materials• Grocery warehouse/

distribution• Grocery stores• Foodservice (volume

feeding)• Restaurants

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Industry-led Food Safety Programs• Key Characteristics

• Industry-led• National & Accessible• Commodity or Segment-specific• HACCP or HACCP-based • Consistent and Integrated• Auditable• Recognized in Canada• Internationally accepted• Affordable

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Technically Sound Programs

• Rigorous HACCP-based approach• Adoption of Codex Principles & CFIA’s FSEP

“toolkit • Use of current science• Up & downstream input • Peer & expert reviews • Information sharing • “User friendly”, practical results

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Administratively Effective Programs

• Common approaches to management control, risk communication, crisis management, etc.

• Conformity assessment based on ISO approach

• Designed to meet market needs

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Government/Industry Partnerships• Key Milestones

• 1997 - Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Program (primary production)

• 2000 - Canadian Food Safety Adaptation Program (rest of the food supply chain)

• 2004 – Canadian Food Safety & Quality Program (new funding for food safety, traceability, quality along the chain)

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Creating an Industry-led Food Safety Program

• Government & Producer cost shared (some recognition of “public benefit”)

• Four Phase Process• Phase 1 - National Strategy• Phase 2 – Program Development• Phase 3 – Implementation

• Phase 4 – Recognition

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Supply Chain Collaboration

• Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education

• Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition

• Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Working Group

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education

• Established in December 1997 by industry, consumer & government organizations

• Mission: “to co-ordinate and deliver food safety awareness programs aimed at the Consumer”

• Members - more than 50 trade associations and government bodies

• Programs – Fightbac & Young Adult Program

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition

• Established December 2000• Mission: “to facilitate the development and

implementation of a national, co-ordinated approach to food safety”

• Members: national, provincial & local associations representing input suppliers, farmers, processors, transporters, retailers & food service

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Working Group• Established December 1998• Mandate: “forum for research into and the

collaborative development of national initiatives related to commodity-specific on-farm food safety programs”

• Membership: • national commodity groups & general farm

organizations• Other industry associations (feed mills, veterinarians)

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

COFFS Working Group

• Some Projects• Negotiation of Official Recognition • National On-Farm Auditor Training Module• Management System Template• Organizational Risk Management Toolkit• Common Program Modules (e.g. Medicated

Feeds)• Promotion & Communications

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Challenges Ahead

• Implementation of industry food safety programs

• Modifying consumer behaviour• Balancing expectations along the supply chain• Assuring that food safety remains pre-

competitive• Greater harmonization in Canada & Globally• Building on our collaborative foundation

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Canadian Approach to Food Safety

• Comprehensive Approach

• Supply Chain Collaboration

• Industry/Government Partnerships

• Science-based Tools

• National Initiatives

• Consistent and Integrated Programs

IAFP – 93rd Annual MeetingCalgary, Alberta 14 August 2006

Canadian Approach to Food SafetyMore Information in French and English on:• Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Working Group

• www.onfarmfoodsafety.ca• Canadian Food Safety & Quality Program

• www.agr.ca/fd_al_e.phb• CFIA led Official Recognition

• www.inspection.gc.ca (under food safety)• Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition

• www.foodsafetycoalition.ca• Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety

Education• www.canfightbac.org