COFFS Working Group

1
Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Working Group

• New Member
• Orientation Presentation
• Albert Chambers
• Co-ordinator
• COFFS Working Group

2
Presentation Outline

• Background
• Terms of Reference
• Past Projects
• 2005/6 Workplan
• Task Groups

3
Background to the COFFS WG (1)

• Key Events
• 1996 editorial group formed by CFA to guide
  work on An Introduction to On-Farm Food Safety
• first collaborative initiative amongst commodity
  groups (members non-members of CFA)
• Leads to farm organization agreement on need for
  federal programming establishment of COFFS
  Program in 1997

4
Background to COFFS WG (2)

• Key Events
• Sept 1998 - COFFS Program Workshop on
  Accreditation (commodity groups other
  stakeholders including governments)
• Primary purpose to discuss recognition concepts
  options
• Commodity groups ask CFA to form a working group
  to provide forum for continued discussion
• December 1998 first meeting of CFA Working
  Group on Accreditation membership open to all
  commodity groups participating in COFFS Program

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Background to COFFS WG (3)

• Sept 2000 - Name changes to COFFS Working Group
• Terms of Reference

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COFFS WG Terms of Reference (1)

• Current Terms of Reference agreed to June 2004
• 1.0 Vision That farmers will have available to
  them a Canadian approach to on-farm food safety
  that is composed of officially recognized,
  national, commodity-specific, auditable,
  HACCP-based on-farm food safety programs that are
  consistent, affordable and meet the requirements
  of both the Canadian and international
  marketplaces and such other supportive elements
  as are required to ensure its credibility and
  sustainability.

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COFFS WG Terms of Reference (2)

• 2.0 Mandate The Canadian On-Farm Food Safety
  (COFFS) Working Group has been established by the
  national commodity groups and general farm
  organizations as a forum for research into and
  the collaborative development of initiatives
  related to the national commodity-specific
  on-farm food safety programs and the Canadian
  approach to on-farm food safety

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COFFS WG Terms of Reference (3)

• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities To fulfill its
  mandate, the COFFS Working Group
• meets regularly and conducts conference calls as
  necessary
• provides advice to AAFC and its agents on the
  administration of federal funding for food safety
  programs
• liaises with AAFC, the FPTAgri-food Inspection
  Committee and its subcommittee on on-farm food
  safety, CFIA, Health Canada and other government
  bodies on policy, research and other matters
  related to on-farm food safety
• monitors and reports upon emerging issues related
  to on-farm food safety

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COFFS WG Terms of Reference (4)

• Roles and Responsibilities continued
• monitors and reports upon emerging international
  trends in on-farm food safety
• provides input into Canadas international
  positions related to on-farm food safety (e.g.
  Codex Alimentarius Commission, Food and
  Agriculture Organization, World Health
  Organization, International Organization of
  Standardization, etc)
• promotes Canadian understanding of the Canadian
  approach to on-farm food safety and,
• promotes the international acceptance of the
  Canadian approach to on-farm food safety.

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COFFS WG Terms of Reference (5)

• To achieve its goals, the WG undertakes specific
  projects
• research related to the sustainability of the
  national programs and the Canadian approach
• negotiations with governments
• development of or research on common elements or
  infrastructure
• providing common training opportunities for
  members
• holding national and international conferences or
  participating in other events in order to promote
  Canadian understanding or international
  acceptance.

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COFFS WG Terms of Reference (6)

• 4.0 Membership The COFFS Working Group is open
  to
• national commodity groups developing or
  interested in the development of national on-farm
  (terrestrial and aquatic) food safety programs
• the national and provincial general farm
  organizations and,
• other stakeholder groups by invitation (e.g. ANAC
  CVMA).
• Observers AAFC, CFIA, FPT Subcommittee on
  On-Farm Food Safety

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COFFS WG Terms of Reference (7)

• 5.0 Governance The COFFS Working Group
• is not an incorporated body
• makes decisions by either consensus or by
  majority vote - member organizations are not
  bound by its decisions and it does not establish
  policy on behalf of its members.
• elects a chair vice chair or two co-chairs
• establishes Task Groups and/or delegates
  representatives to participate on external
  committees.
• members agree that their monetary costs and
  in-kind donations are not eligible to be claimed
  or contributed towards other funding applications.

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COFFS WG Terms of Reference (8)

• 6.0 Member Communications The COFFS Working
  Group
• operates in a transparent manner. Its meetings
  are open to representatives of member
  organizations, observers and others by
  invitation.
• keeps minutes of meetings and conference calls.
• Prepares a report after each regular meeting for
  general circulation.
• Makes available final reports and other materials
  prepared by or for the COFFS Working Group to the
  member organizations and to others upon request

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COFFS WG Terms of Reference (8)

• 7.0 Administration The COFFS Working Group
• engages a consultant assist it with its
  activities and projects.
• has its financial administration and project
  management provided by the Canadian Federation of
  Agriculture.
• regularly reviews the performance of both its
  consultant and its administrator.

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Model Management System Project

• Initiated - 1999
• Objective Develop a model management system for
  national programs delivery agents to meet
  Recognition requirements primarily for
  certification
• Based on ISO Guide 62/SCC CAN-P-10b
• Case study with CQA provided exemplar/model
• Takes into account early version of Government
  Requirements
• Output - Policy Manual 15 Procedures
• Completed Spring 2003
• Materials Available to WG members

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On-farm Food Safety Auditor Training (1)

• Initiated 2000
• Objective Develop a national training module
  covering food safety and basic auditing
  techniques and to establish a new occupation of
  on-farm food safety auditor.
• Institut de technologie agroalimentaire de
  Saint-Hyacinthe engaged as course development
  consultant through RFP process
• Curriculum based on ISO audit standard (10011),
  Codex Alimentarius materials and CFIA HACCP
  curriculum guidelines
• Output 50 hour course (35 hours in classroom)
• Revised to reflect new ISO 19011 requirements

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On-farm Food Safety Auditor Training (2)

• Commodity-specific courses
• National module provides basics
• Commodity-specific courses provide detailed
  information about auditing an on-farm program
  (e.g. program requirements, reporting
  requirements, dealing with corrective actions,
  etc)
• Courses to be developed by NPO
• Courses vary between 1 day and 3 days
• Review of course content and delivery is part of
  Recognition process

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On-Farm Food Safety Auditor Training (3)

• COFFS WG agreement on education experience
  qualifications
• 2 year post secondary studies in an
  agriculture-related field 2 years agriculture
  production related experience or
• Other post secondary studies (2 year diploma or
  degree) and 3 years agriculture production
  related experience or
• No post secondary studies and 5 years agriculture
  production related experience
• Equivalency - national programs have reserved the
  option of recognizing equivalent training and
  experience in their programs

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On-Farm Food Safety Auditor Training (4)

• Current Status of National Module
• Delivery Licensed to SGS Canada through December
  2005 - limited success in filling courses
• Approach under review in 2005/6
• Expression of Interest circulated October
  replies reviewed
• RFP for e-learning auditor training module
  circulated in January replies reviewed in
  February
• Additional information being sought
• Food Safety module placement under discussion
  with Lakeland College ITA

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Risk Management (1)

• Objective to review issues develop strategies
  for dealing with risk issues of major
  stakeholders to on-farm food safety programs
  (e.g. NPOs, delivery agents, auditors,
  producers)
• Key Events
• October 2000 Currie Report on Risk and
  Insurance Management Issues
• February 2001 RFP for Risk Management
  Consultants
• May 2001 Marsh engaged for 1st Phase of project
• September 2001 Marsh presents 1st Phase report
  obtains further direction
• June 2002 Marsh presents draft Risk Management
  Guide

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Risk Management (2)

• On-Farm Auditor Insurance Project
• Identified as need in Currie Marsh Reports
• April 2003 Marsh presents preliminary proposal
• December 2003 Marsh presents results of RFP
• April 2004 Errors Omissions Insurance Group
  Scheme launched with Encon
• February 2005 Group Scheme not renewed due to
  limited participation - individual insurance
  option remains open

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2005/6 Workplan

• 1 - WG Meetings Monitoring
• 2 - National Farm Leaders Meetings
• 3 - Communications Promotion (TG)
• 4 - FPT Recognition
• 5 - Risk Management
• 6 - Common GPPs for medicated feeds (TG)

• 7 - Common IT
• 8 - Common Elements for Auditors (TG)
• 9 - Research Issues (TG)
• 10 - On-going Training Needs (TG)
• 11 Introductory Training Module (English)
• 12 - Delivery Options/ Implementation Costs

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1 Meetings Monitoring

• Objective to provide regular opportunities for
  interaction amongst WG members, etc
• Key Events
• Started in 1998
• 4 to 5 per year
• Sometimes held in conjunction with other events
  or WG workshops
• Conference calls web-based sessions utilized

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Emerging Issues Current List

• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Off-Label Use (Vet Drugs Pesticides)
• Traceability
• CFIA Enforcement Issues
• Provincial food safety legislation
• Bio-medical waste
• Privacy legislation
• Audit Approaches
• International Standards

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2 - Farm Leaders Meetings

• Objectives
• Policy Direction for Canadian Approach
• Increased Awareness of OFFF Programs
• Increased Collaboration between Programs
• Status
• 1st Farm Leaders Meeting (December 2002)
• 2nd Farm Leaders Meeting (June 2003)
• 3rd Farm Leaders Meeting (September 2003)
• 4th Farm Leaders Meeting (postponed to 2007)

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3 - Communications Promotion

• Task Group WG members NPO communication staff
• Objectives
• to advise the WG concerning communications about
  and the promotion of the Canadian Approach
  collaborative communications or promotion
  initiatives
• annually review update an action plan
• monitor the implementation of the action plan
• reviews any outputs, materials, etc.
• 2 meetings per year conference calls
• Current Status 2005/6 plan funded extended to
  June 2006

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4 - FPT Recognition

• FPT Subcommittee WG participation with 4
  delegates (3 members co-ordinator)
• Objective Develop the FPT framework for official
  recognition of on-farm food safety programs
• Current Activities
• Requirements for 3rd Party Audit
• Pilot Project for Administrative Assessment
• Finalize Government Requirements
• Next meeting April 2006

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5 - Risk Management

• Revised Legal Opinion
• Completed - April 2005
• Reviewed by WG June 2005
• Research on Producer Concerns
• Issues of Liability, etc
• Application submitted AAFCs Private Sector Risk
  Management Partnerships (PSRMP) Program
• Timeframe mid-2006

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6 Common GPPs for Medicated Feeds

• Objective To provide a common module of GGPs
  concerning the mixing of medicated feeds
  consistent with the requirements of CFIA
  regulations for insertion in poultry, livestock
  and aquaculture programs
• Key Events
• Feb 2000 CFIA publishes draft regulations
  initiates consultations, pilot projects, etc
• 2001/02 WG workplan identifies common module
  project
• June 2003 GFTC contracted as consultant
• January 2004 draft GPPs completed pending
  revisions by CFIA to regulations
• Current Status Revised regulations expected
  late 2006 or early 2007, on-farm implementation
  within 2 or 3 years

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7 Common IT Software

• Objective To provide NPOs opportunity to review
  audit software explore opportunities for
  collaborative adoption
• Key Events
• June 2000 WG initiates discussions research
• February 2001 - Presentation by
  GCSMobilesolutions
• March 2005 - Showcase Presentations of CBHEMA
  audit protocol by 3 existing audit software
  providers (1 Canadian, I Australian/Canadian 1
  US)
• February 2006 Presentation of digital writing
  solution further information requested

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8 Common Elements for Auditors (1)

• Objective facilitate consistency in on-farm food
  safety auditing, training, etc across programs
• Key Events
• July 2004 Task Group on Auditor Issues created
• Tasks include
• Monitoring SGS Course
• Developing advice on professional development
  options
• Consideration of development of refresher course
• Monitoring certification issue
• Developing Biosecurity Protocol Code of Ethics

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8 Common Elements for Auditors (2)

• Current Status
• March 2005 Biosecurity Protocol Code of
  Ethics approved by WG
• May 2005 Task Group conference call
• June 2005 RABQSA presentation on food safety
  auditor certification
• July 2005 Task Group conference call
• September 2005 Task Group to advise WG on
  future of national module
• December 2006 Review of expressions of interest
• February 2006 Review of responses to RFP
• February/March 2006 additional info to be
  obtained

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9 - Research Issues (1)

• Objective To advise WG on options for baseline
  research, for funding common
  commodity-specific research project develop an
  action plan
• Key Events
• 2004 - Task Group formed of WG members
  officials from AAFC, CFIA Health Canada
• January 2005 2nd TG meeting action plan
  prepared approved by WG for inclusion in 2005/6
  workplan
• March 2005 action plan revised, WG discussion
  on research needs scheduled for June
  consideration re baseline research put on hold

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9 - Research Issues (2)

• Key Events
• November 2005 WG discussion held, baseline
  project revived
• March 2006 contract on baseline project issued
  completion by June 2006

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10 On-going Training Needs

• Objective To explore requirements
  opportunities for training related to OFFS
  programs
• Key Events
• November 2003 Joint WG ACCC Workshops
• May 2003 ACCC submits concept paper re future
  action CFA reviews initiative to develop Ag
  Sector Training Council
• June 2004 Task Group established
• September 2005 WG puts project on hold
• February 2006 WG briefed on Agriculture Sector
  Council developments

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11 Introductory Training Module

• Objective To provide in French English a
  distance learning module to introduce the
  Canadian approach to on-farm food safety
• Key Events
• 2003 ITA contracted to produce both French
  English version
• 2004 SIAS takes over development of English
  version
• 2005 Target for project conclusion
• 2006 February/March Auditor TG reviewing
  Lakeland ITA materials

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12 Delivery Options/ Implementation Costs
Project 4th Phase

• Objective to quantify current projected
  implementation costs of national programs to aid
  decision-making
• Key Events
• Continues various initiatives dating back to 1999
• Application for funding submitted June 2005
  approved November 2005
• Steering committee established (January 2006),
  consultant selected (February)

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2006/7 Workplan

• 1 - WG Meetings Monitoring
• 2 - National Farm Leaders Meetings
• 3 - Communications Promotion (TG)
• 4 - FPT Recognition
• 5 - Risk Management
• 6 - Common GPPs for medicated feeds (TG)

• 7 Common Elements for Auditors (TG)
• 8 - Research Issues (TG)
• 9 - On-going Training Needs (TG)
• 10 Delivery Options/ Implementation Costs (SC)

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Canadian Approach to On-Farm Food Safety

• A Producer-led Initiative
• A Successful Industry/Government Partnership
• A World Leader