Food News, May 2008

Food Safety Initiative GMP/HACCP Funding Available

The Agricultural Policy Framework – Food Safety Initiative Program (APF-FSI) will continue for another year making more funding toward the implementation of food safety measures available to non-federally registered agri-processors.

You may be familiar with this funding program, worked with a food safety specialist within our program and received a grant, or this program may be completely new to you. This funding is available to processors to advance their food safety systems development and implementation, which include Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) or a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. The program will again support upgrading food safety systems and provide food safety specialists at no charge to coach you or your staff, assist with identifying food safety gaps, and to help with completing the application form as well as answer any questions or concerns that may arise during the process.

The funding guidelines are as follows:

1. If you were previously involved in this program, we would like to provide the opportunity for you to apply for the balance of the original funding grant. You are eligible to apply for the unclaimed/unused portion of the original grant agreement amount (up to $15,000);
2. If you have not previously accessed any funding under the APF-FSI program, you may be eligible to apply for either $15,000 to implement GMP’s, or $20,000 to implement HACCP and/or ISO 22000;
3. If you previously applied for and received the maximum of $15,000, you are eligible to apply for the second level of funding. This second level is an additional $5,000 to implement HACCP and/or ISO 22000, and requires successfully passing an audit to qualify. Additional details are available upon request.