Food Safety and Traceability Gap Assessment and Pre-audit

Stream: Processor

Code:

FSAP-PR-A

For gap assessments and pre-audits by a qualified third party against internationally or nationally recognized programs to advance food safety or traceability systems.

Who should apply?

See “To apply you must”.

To apply you must

Meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a new processor business (new entrant) that:
  • Constitutes a legal person
  • Is new to the food and agri-product processing industry and has business projections that demonstrate potential annual gross business income of $30,000 or more within three years of applying
  • Files personal income taxes in Ontario
  • Has not filed taxes of $30,000 or more in annual gross business revenue as a food or agri-product processing business in the two years prior to applying for funding
  • Has a valid Premises Identification (PID) Number (if a processing facility is established)
• Be involved with food products for human consumption
• Have 100 or fewer employees

Eligible activities and expenditures

• Costs for a gap assessment or pre-audit by a qualified third party (e.g., consultant, auditor or industry expert) to identify opportunities for food safety or traceability improvements in an operation
• Costs for an assessment of equivalency between food safety programs by a qualified third party (e.g., consultant, auditor or industry expert)
• Advisory costs related to developing an action plan for future implementation of a food safety or traceability system

Ineligible activities and expenditures

• Gap assessments and pre-audits not related to traceability or food safety (e.g., gluten-free, halal, organic)
• Costs to perform first-time or ongoing mock recalls and related improvements to existing recall capabilities
• First-time or subsequent food safety certification costs
• Writing, development, or implementation of food safety or traceability systems
• Capital expenses or costs of equipment required to put a food safety or traceability system in place
• In-kind contributions
• Travel and meal costs
• Activities and expenditures as detailed here

Available cost-share

45 per cent, up to a maximum of $3,000

Required documentation

• Quote or proposal from a qualified third-party organization or consultant, detailing services to be provided, cost and outcomes

Merit assessment criteria

• Food safety priority of the food product
• Current food safety program certification status to national or international program standards (e.g., Safe Quality Food, British Retail Consortium)
• Traceability system status
• Goals or outcomes of the project, how will the information be used in the future