Food Safety — Processing (Processor)

Food Safety - Processing, a Growing Forward initiative to facilitate effective risk management.

Due to tremendous interest, we have fully committed the budget for the Growing Forward Food Safety Processing (Processor) Program for the 2012-13 fiscal year. We will stop accepting applications on April 19, 2012 after 4:30 P.M.

Please note that there was limited funding available in the Food Safety Processing Processor Program, and applications that have been received are being considered for approval on a first come first served basis within Program funding constraints.

If more funding becomes available we will update this webpage accordingly.

For further information about the program and the application process, please refer to the “Program Terms and Conditions”.

Please keep checking this website for updates, or contact 310-FARM.

Program Description

The Food Safety — Processing program is designed to allocate funds for processors to implement food safety systems that result in demonstrated behaviour changes in food safety practices. This can be achieved through adoption of food safety systems, undergoing food safety audits, participating in food safety training or through capital equipment purchases that directly impact food safety.

Program Eligibility

The Food Safety - Processing program is targeted at facilities operating in Alberta that are:

Processors involved in producing food or drink for human consumption.
Primary packaging manufacturers whose products come into direct contact with food products.
Applicants cannot be a federally registered meat, poultry or meat storage facility, processed fruit and vegetable, honey or dairy, fish/seafood facility. Retail and foodservice are not eligible for this funding.

Approved food safety programs include: Alberta HACCP Advantage (AHA!), Meat Facility Standards (MFS) and International Standards Organization (ISO) 22000 Food Safety Management System.

Available Funding

Maximum funding is $50,000 for the Growing Forward implementation period from April 1, 2009 – March 31, 2013 per eligible applicant.
Funding can be used for non capital or capital items alone or a combination of both non-capital and capital.
- Non Capital Items - Assistance will be on a 70/30 cost shared basis (government / applicant) for to a maximum of $25,000.
  - Maximum of $25,000 for incremental wages for your own staff to do implementation of food safety programs. (eg. An expenditure of $35,714.29 x 70% will allow you to be reimbursed up to a maximum of $25,000), or
  - Maximum of $20,000 to hire a food safety consultant to assist in the implementation of food safety programs (eg. An expenditure of $28,571.43 x 70% will allow you to be reimbursed up to the maximum of $20,000). If you choose this second option you can still be reimbursed an additional $5,000 for non capital (eg. An expenditure of $7,142.86 x 70% will allow you to be reimbursed an additional $5,000).
- Capital Items - Assistance will be on a 50/50 cost shared basis (government / applicant) to a maximum of $50,000 for capital items, provided that the Applicant submits detailed plans describing the food hazard being addressed and how control of the food hazard control will be maintained. (eg. An expenditure of $100,000 x 50% will allow you to be reimbursed up to a maximum of $50,000).

Please note: If a capital project is approved you must have related non capital programs as part of the capital project which must be completed in order to be reimbursed under this program.

How to Apply

There are two parts to the application process. First, you must submit a Growing Forward Registration form: this is a one time application and provides you with a Growing Forward Registration number that must be used on all applications for funding under any of the Growing Forward Programs. Please see below for a link to the Growing Forward registration forms page.

Second, you must submit a complete program application form. If you do not submit a complete application you will be contacted and provided with 14 days to make the necessary changes to your application. Failure to complete your application in this time frame will result in your application being placed at the bottom of the list and the next applicant in the first come first served list will be contacted. All applicants will be dealt with on a first come first serve basis.

To find out more about the program or to be put in touch with an Agriculture and Rural Development food safety specialist, contact the Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM.

Resources

For resources and information to assist you in developing and implementing food safety programs or HACCP, please click here.

For information on Meat Facility Standards, please click here.

Registration Forms

Please click here to access the appropriate Growing Forward Registration form.

Program Availability

This program is “Operational” which means that we are working with applicants in grant agreements and are opening up the applications once budget becomes available. As the program is funded over four years and we have limited budget we are only able to serve a limited number of applicants in a given year. End.

Contact

310-FARM

GrowingForward@gov.ab.ca

Growing Forward Registration

You must register with Growing Forward to participate in these programs. Learn more about registration.

Food Safety - Processing (Processor) Program Forms

Program Terms and Conditions

Application Form is No Longer Available

Application Guideline

Resources

Resources On Food Safety Programs or HACCP

Meat Facility Standards