Canadian Grain Commission Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point

The Canadian Grain Commission Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (CGC HACCP) is a voluntary program. It certifies that a grain company’s food safety quality management system meets the food safety requirements of the national Food Safety and Identity Quality Management System Preserved Standard.

To obtain CGC HACCP certification, a company must have effective food safety processes that manage the risks associated with handling, storing, processing and shipping grains, oilseeds and pulses. The Canadian Grain Commission developed the food safety component of the Standard with the grain industry by following the Codex Alimentarius Principles of HACCP.

Program Components

The system is built on 3 components:

• The Canadian Grain Commission’s Food Safety and Identity Preserved Quality Management System Standard sets out the requirements that the food safety quality management system must meet, focusing on the need to identify and meet customer specifications and mitigate grain food safety risks.
• Third party audits are conducted on food safety quality management systems by Canadian Grain Commission-accredited auditors to ensure that the Standard is being met.
• A Certificate of Recognition that is issued to a grain company after it has successfully undergone an audit. The certificate provides assurance that the grain company’s food safety quality management system is operating as it should, that potential grain food safety risks are mitigated and that it meets the requirements of the FSIP Standard.

Provincial partnership

Canadian Grain Commission Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point is based on the Advantage HACCP program offered in Ontario by the Ontario Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The Canadian Grain Commission and OMAFRA have worked together to ensure that CGC HACCP does not duplicate Advantage HACCP. Ontario grain companies that achieve CGC HACCP certification will also be certified under Advantage Grain with OMAFRA.

Tool kit

The Canadian Grain Commission provides these tools:

• Certification of an Identity Preserved Program and/or HACCP-based Food Safety Program under CIPRS, CIPRS + HACCP or CGC HACCP (CGC QSP 1.1.0) explains in detail how to apply and how a program is certified.
• Canadian Grain Commission Food Safety Identity Preserved Quality Management System Standard (CGC FSIP-STAN 1.1.0) sets out the requirements that a grain company’s identity preserved and/or food safety quality management system must meet.
• Sample Good Operating Practices for Grains, Oilseeds and Pulses Grain Handling and Processing Facilities is a generic prerequisite program developed by industry and government experts. A grain company can use it to guide the development of their site specific prerequisite program.
• Generic HACCP Plan is a generic HACCP plan developed by industry and government experts. A grain company can adapt it to its own facilities and processes.
• The Application for Certification form is available as an Adobe PDF or as a Microsoft Word document.
• The Canadian Identity Preserved Recognition System fee schedule describes the fees necessary for certification.
• A sample company manual and sample forms are available for you to use as a reference while you prepare your own manual and forms.