Welcome to the Canadian Sheep Federation’s Food-Safe Farm Practices Program. This voluntary program, designed to meet the food safety challenges facing the sheep industry, was developed by producers and industry personnel from across Canada.

What is it?
This program examines all areas of production and outlines management options that are designed to minimize food safety risks. It is based on "must do" good production practices (GPPs). It also makes recommendations on practices geared to assist producers in producing a safe and high quality product. GPPs are operating procedures that promote food safety and production efficiency. As a producer, you recognize that you have always been responsible for identifying on farm food safety hazards. However, with the help of the training session and the GPP manual, you will have the tools to anticipate problems and develop troubleshooting techniques to reduce risks. You will also be responsible for maintaining a simple record keeping system to monitor and document the effectiveness of your actions. In addition, you will set up verification procedures to prove that your control program is working.

A HAACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, pronounced "haa-sip") approach was used to develop this program. What this means is that on farm food safety risks during the production process were identified. Then, control measures were developed to reduce those risks. The places where these risks could occur are called Critical Control Points (CCP).

A Critical Control Point is a point, step or procedure where a hazard may occur and where steps can be taken to prevent, eliminate or reduce the hazard to an acceptable level

Sources of on-farm hazards:

• Physical (broken needles)
• Biological (E. coli, salmonella)
• Chemical (antibiotic residues)

Examples of CCPs:

• Processing, mixing and storing feed
• Handling and administering medications
• Raw milk cooling and freezing

Why participate?
Ensure access to markets - Food safety is a national and international priority. Commodity organizations within Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union have developed their own food safety programs. These programs will result in an increased demand for suppliers who can demonstrate vigilance in this area.

Enhance consumer confidence - By consistently supplying a safe quality product by addressing concerns regarding pesticides, emerging pathogens and antibiotic resistance.

How can you become involved?
This program is completely voluntary, however, the ability of the CSF to prove that it is providing high quality products depends on the Canadian Sheep producers being willing to participate in the program.

Contained in this website are the Food-Safe Farming Practices modules and the respective assignments. Registering for the program and successfully completing the assignments is your first step to becoming certified.