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Who needs to be OFFS-certified?
The new Certification program is open to producers, storage intermediaries and packers who need to demonstrate to their customers that they are implementing on-farm food safety programs and/or following the CHC OFFS Manuals. If your buyer is asking specifically for the CHC OFFS certification, you should enroll. If you are not sure what your customers are requesting, contact them. Some buyers are asking their suppliers to implement the manuals, but this is not the same as requiring certification. The certification may be requested by buyers who wish to ensure that the CHC OFFS Manuals are being implemented effectively by their suppliers. As customers become more aware of the CHC program, demands for multiple OFFS audits are expected to decrease. How do I become certified?
Those interested in being certified to the Program will enroll through the CHC. The application form is available on the CHC Web site or by contacting the CHC National Office. Enrollees will be required to pass a third party audit specifically based on the CHC manuals. The audit will be performed by QMI – SAI Global, who is capable of understanding and assessing a supplier's compliance with the CHC food safety requirements. Training of the auditors is taking place in the summer of 2008; scheduling of audits will begin in July/August 2008, and the first audits will take place starting in September 2008. Why are there three different certification options, and which one should I choose?
The CHC OFFS Program has been designed to be as flexible and responsive as possible to developments within a dynamic industry. The three certification options are tailored to:
The CHC OFFS Program is being implemented in response to buyer demands, even though not all of the CHC OFFS Manuals have completed the full Technical Review process. At the time of program launch (September 1, 2008), reviews are complete for Potatoes, Tree and Vine Fruit, and Greenhouse Production. Review of the Small Fruit and Leafy Vegetable and Cruciferae programs will be in progress. The CHC is proceeding with Government Technical Review of the remaining manuals, but the process is lengthy and progress can be slow. In the meantime, many customers have already endorsed the CHC OFFS Program and understand that suppliers are using the latest available version of the manuals, whether final or draft, to put their food safety programs in place. The audit checklist for CHC OFFS certification has been developed based on the requirements contained in the most recent versions of all eight commodity-specific manuals. As each module completes Technical Review, the audit will reflect any changes to the requirements. Can the CHC OFFS Certification help me if I currently need multiple certifications, such as GlobalGAP, certified organic, or others?
Yes. One of the reasons that the CHC chose to outsource the certification function of the CHC OFFS Program to QMI- SAI Global, was to provide more flexibility for those who are meeting different customer requirements and need multiple certifications, but who would like to avoid the cost and inconvenience of multiple audits. In addition to certifying your food safety program, QMI-SAI Global has the capacity to offer multiple certifications within a single visit, for instance if a producer/packer also needs certification to the GFSI standard, GlobalGAP, organic certification or other programs in which QMI-SAI Global auditors are qualified. The CHC is working to eliminate the need for multiple food safety certifications in the future. To assist Canadian suppliers to foreign markets, the CHC will pursue benchmarking of the Canadian OFFS Program to Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and GlobalGAP standards starting in 2009. The goal is to obtain international recognitions of equivalency. Certified participants will have the benefit of using the made-in-Canada OFFS Program to meet comparable food safety requirements of the international marketplace, such as GlobalGAP and SQF 1000. This will address the issue of multiple food safety certifications currently facing some Canadian suppliers. I’m following multiple CHC OFFS Manuals because I produce and pack a number of different fruits and vegetables. Do I need multiple audits or certifications to the CHC OFFS Program?
A single audit will cover all aspects of your operation. There is only one audit checklist that covers the requirements for all eight commodity-specific manuals. Once you have successfully completed your audit, you will receive one CHC OFFS Certificate that describes the scope of your operation and identifies all crops you are producing, storing or packing under your food safety program. What is Government Technical Review?
Canadian federal, provincial and territorial governments have developed a mechanism to provide oversight to on-farm food safety programs. This two-stage approach is led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency with participation from provincial and territorial governments. The first stage takes a look at the technical requirements of the OFFS program. This involves bringing together a team of government experts in food safety to review the generic HACCP model that forms the basis of each CHC commodity-specific standard. To ensure that food safety hazards have been appropriately identified, the review proceeds to examine the corresponding manual to ensure that the food safety hazards identified in the HACCP model have been adequately addressed. The second step in government oversight entails an examination of the effectiveness of the delivery and management of the on-farm programs. Back to main page of CHC On-Farm Food Safety Program
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Who needs to be OFFS-certified?The new Certification program is open to producers, storage intermediaries and packers who need to demonstrate to their customers that they are implementing on-farm food safety programs and/or following the CHC OFFS Manuals. If your buyer is asking specifically for the CHC OFFS certification, you should enroll. If you are not sure what your customers are requesting, contact them. Some buyers are asking their suppliers to implement the manuals, but this is not the same as requiring certification. The certification may be requested by buyers who wish to ensure that the CHC OFFS Manuals are being implemented effectively by their suppliers. As customers become more aware of the CHC program, demands for multiple OFFS audits are expected to decrease. How do I become certified?
Those interested in being certified to the Program will enroll through the CHC. The application form is available on the CHC Web site or by contacting the CHC National Office. Enrollees will be required to pass a third party audit specifically based on the CHC manuals. The audit will be performed by QMI – SAI Global, who is capable of understanding and assessing a supplier's compliance with the CHC food safety requirements. Training of the auditors is taking place in the summer of 2008; scheduling of audits will begin in July/August 2008, and the first audits will take place starting in September 2008. Why are there three different certification options, and which one should I choose?
The CHC OFFS Program has been designed to be as flexible and responsive as possible to developments within a dynamic industry. The three certification options are tailored to:
- respond to different market requirements and pressures
- satisfy the expectations of a wide range of buyers, both in Canada and internationally
- provide maximum benefit to Canadian suppliers by enabling them to gain access
- Option A: Four-year Audit Cycle
- Option B: Group Certification
- Option C: Annual On-Site Audit
The CHC OFFS Program is being implemented in response to buyer demands, even though not all of the CHC OFFS Manuals have completed the full Technical Review process. At the time of program launch (September 1, 2008), reviews are complete for Potatoes, Tree and Vine Fruit, and Greenhouse Production. Review of the Small Fruit and Leafy Vegetable and Cruciferae programs will be in progress. The CHC is proceeding with Government Technical Review of the remaining manuals, but the process is lengthy and progress can be slow. In the meantime, many customers have already endorsed the CHC OFFS Program and understand that suppliers are using the latest available version of the manuals, whether final or draft, to put their food safety programs in place. The audit checklist for CHC OFFS certification has been developed based on the requirements contained in the most recent versions of all eight commodity-specific manuals. As each module completes Technical Review, the audit will reflect any changes to the requirements. Can the CHC OFFS Certification help me if I currently need multiple certifications, such as GlobalGAP, certified organic, or others?
Yes. One of the reasons that the CHC chose to outsource the certification function of the CHC OFFS Program to QMI- SAI Global, was to provide more flexibility for those who are meeting different customer requirements and need multiple certifications, but who would like to avoid the cost and inconvenience of multiple audits. In addition to certifying your food safety program, QMI-SAI Global has the capacity to offer multiple certifications within a single visit, for instance if a producer/packer also needs certification to the GFSI standard, GlobalGAP, organic certification or other programs in which QMI-SAI Global auditors are qualified. The CHC is working to eliminate the need for multiple food safety certifications in the future. To assist Canadian suppliers to foreign markets, the CHC will pursue benchmarking of the Canadian OFFS Program to Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and GlobalGAP standards starting in 2009. The goal is to obtain international recognitions of equivalency. Certified participants will have the benefit of using the made-in-Canada OFFS Program to meet comparable food safety requirements of the international marketplace, such as GlobalGAP and SQF 1000. This will address the issue of multiple food safety certifications currently facing some Canadian suppliers. I’m following multiple CHC OFFS Manuals because I produce and pack a number of different fruits and vegetables. Do I need multiple audits or certifications to the CHC OFFS Program?
A single audit will cover all aspects of your operation. There is only one audit checklist that covers the requirements for all eight commodity-specific manuals. Once you have successfully completed your audit, you will receive one CHC OFFS Certificate that describes the scope of your operation and identifies all crops you are producing, storing or packing under your food safety program. What is Government Technical Review?
Canadian federal, provincial and territorial governments have developed a mechanism to provide oversight to on-farm food safety programs. This two-stage approach is led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency with participation from provincial and territorial governments. The first stage takes a look at the technical requirements of the OFFS program. This involves bringing together a team of government experts in food safety to review the generic HACCP model that forms the basis of each CHC commodity-specific standard. To ensure that food safety hazards have been appropriately identified, the review proceeds to examine the corresponding manual to ensure that the food safety hazards identified in the HACCP model have been adequately addressed. The second step in government oversight entails an examination of the effectiveness of the delivery and management of the on-farm programs. Back to main page of CHC On-Farm Food Safety Program