A Summary of Food Safety Programs by Province

Current food safety legislation is becoming a front burner issue as many provinces are moving toward mandating certification. The decision to implement such action is inspired by the need to protect consumers from food borne illness, to ensure that customers and food service workers are safe, and to prevent hazardous food safety incidents.

The following information on food safety programs in Canada (as of June 2003) displays provincial activity with regard to where requirements exist, who can train and what is accepted as a training standard.

The table illustrates that Alberta is a leader in requiring food safety certification for food services workers.

Province

Food Safety Training Legislation

Requirement

Recommended

Who can train?

Certification

British Columbia
check mark

(operator and one employee in his/her absence)

  

Accredited trainers

By approved course

Alberta
check mark

(with 6 or more employees, at least one must be trained)

  

Accredited trainers

Certification exam by approved course or provincial exam

Saskatchewan

check mark

  

Nutritionists, dietitian or person with food science background who has completed approved course

Certification exam by approved course

Manitoba

  
check mark

(only Winnipeg has their own bylaw that requires food handler training)

Accredited trainers

City certification exam

Ontario

  
check mark

(except Brantford who makes it mandatory for foodservice managers)

Accredited trainers

Certification exam by approved course accepted

Quebec

  
check mark

(pushing for requirement)

When required, trainers and offered training must be recognized by Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Food.

When required, provincial exam

New Brunswick

  

check mark

Accredited trainers

No mandatory certification

Prince Edward Island

  

check mark

Accredited trainers

No requirement for exam or certification

Nova Scotia

  
check mark

(except some municipal bylaws require it)

Accredited trainers

Province offers certification exam, but approved course exam also accepted

Newfoundland and Labrador

  

check mark

Accredited trainers

No exam

Northwest Territories

  
check mark

(soon to become requirement - one person per shift)

Accredited trainers

Exam by approved course accepted

Yukon

  

check mark

Delivered by high school and college professors or accredited trainers

No requirement for exam or certification

Nunavut

  

check mark

No requirements on trainers

No exam required