(OTTAWA)  – Canadian farmers are highlighting the proactive measures Canada’s agriculture industry continues to implement to safeguard Canadian food. Producers take food safety seriously and recognize that in today’s world they must continue to adapt their production practices in response to new scientific information.

 “Canadian producers are just as concerned about food safety as consumers,” said Bob Friesen, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). “That is why Canada’s farm organizations have not waited for legislation or regulation but have voluntarily taken the lead in developing programs that ensure the safety of our food right from the farm gate.”

 Since 1997, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture has worked in close collaboration with other industry groups working to establish a national food safety system. To date, 30 national commodity-specific on farm food safety programs have been developed, covering 99 per cent of primary agriculture production in Canada.

 “The industry’s leadership in developing these programs is a clear indication that Canadian farmers are committed to meeting their customers’ demands and providing Canadian consumers with safe, high quality and nutritious food products,” said David Rolfe, President of Manitoba’s Keystone Agricultural Producers and Chair of the CFA Food Safety Committee.

National producer organizations are making long term financial commitments for the establishment of effective HACCP-based (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) food safety programs. The programs help producers work through procedures for good agricultural practices such as sanitation of buildings and equipment, use of agricultural inputs and employee hygiene. The result is programs that are practical, comprehensive and based on the best available science.  To ensure the technical soundness of their programs, groups submit their producer manuals and HACCP models to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to undergo a thorough technical review by a team of federal and provincial government food safety experts.

“Farmers across Canada have recognized they need to be vigilant about their practices to reduce the risk of contamination. Our goal is to provide the industry with a user-friendly, cost effective program to help producers document their actions and take steps to address food safety on the farm from the time of planting until the packed produce is shipped,” said Anne Fowlie, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Horticultural Council. More information about the program for fresh produce can be found at www.hortcouncil.ca/FShome.htm.

CFA gratefully acknowledges the support of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, which has provided funding for the development of the on-farm food safety programs.

For additional information visit the on-farm food safety website: www.onfarmfoodsafety.ca

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.