The Verified Beef Production (VBP) program has received renewed approval from the On-Farm Food Safety Recognition Program of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
This recognition program, overseen by CFIA, provides official government oversight for on-farm food safety programs in Canada, to ensure they are technically sound and appropriately adapt the internationally recognized approach of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
VBP first successfully obtained recognition from the program in 2003 and has maintained this status ever since. However, all recognized programs are expected to regularly review their requirements and implement improvements. The updated programs are then “re-reviewed” by CFIA to ensure they continue to adapt HACCP appropriately and translate requirements effectively in their producer materials.
Read Also
Farming Smarter receives financial boost from Alberta government for potato research
Farming Smarter near Lethbridge got a boost to its research equipment, thanks to the Alberta government’s increase in funding for research associations.
“HACCP is a very proactive approach to food safety,” Terry Grajczyk, VBP program manager said in a release. “Regular review and improvement for HACCP-based programs is not only encouraged but expected. This go-around, the main focus of improvement for VBP was to update the format and language of parts of the program documentation to make the requirements easier to understand and more user-friendly.”
The major producer document used in the VBP program is the Producer Manual, which includes standard operating procedures (SOPs) for management practices in five areas.
The VBP program is managed by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. www.verifiedbeef.org.
