Terms & definitions – Feed BC Directory

What is a B.C. food and beverage?

B.C. food:

A final product produced and/or processed within British Columbia.

B.C. produced:

A raw food product is grown, caught, harvested or raised in British Columbia.

B.C. processed:

A final product that has one of the following activities performed in a commercial food and/or beverage manufacturing facility located in B.C., for the purposes of sales and distribution:

General physical alterations: grinding beef, milling wheat, crushing tomatoes, shredding cheese, chopping cucumbers, etc. and/or
Extending shelf life: freezing, canning, drying, pickling, smoking, fermenting, etc. and/or combining ingredients to make a new product such as baking muffins, making pizza, blending juice, mixing salad greens, etc.
Not considered ‘B.C. food processing’: cleaning, washing, bagging, packaging and/or wrapping, unless combined with one of the three activities above.

Examples of B.C. processed foods:

Washington apples that are washed, sliced and packaged in B.C.
Varieties of California leafy greens that are mixed and bagged in B.C.
Flour from Alberta that is baked into bread at a commercial bakery in B.C.
Idaho potatoes combined with Chinese modified milk ingredients, that are baked, mashed, and frozen in a commercial food premise in B.C.

Not considered a B.C. processed food:

Blueberries from USA that are washed and packaged into smaller containers in B.C.
Cucumbers from Mexico that are washed and wrapped in B.C.
Beef that is raised, processed and frozen in Alberta, and packaged into smaller boxes in B.C.

Business entitled to do business in B.C.

Acceptable business information includes a legal B.C. registration number (Nine-digit business number issued by CRA) or a GST number.

First Nations business eligibility

For businesses operating on First Nations reserves, alternatives for First Nations businesses include:

Band council resolution (BCR)
Letter from band authority (e.g. administrator or band manager)
Band administered business registration number (applicable for some Nations)

Food safety certifications

Federally inspected (CFIA)

Products have been approved under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) and are approved to be sold both within and outside B.C. (INTER-Provincially).

Provincially inspected

Products and production facilities are approved by the local health authority and/or Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and may be sold within the province of B.C. (INTRA-Provincially).

HACCP certified

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a step-by-step food safety system and certification for food processing facilities and businesses to identify, control, and prevent hazards during food production.

CanadaGAP

A national Good Agricultural Practices food safety program and certification that sets standards for businesses that produce, handle and broker fruits and vegetables and is audited by a licensed third-party certification body. The standard and certification program is owned and administered by CanAgPlus, a Canadian not-for-profit corporation, and is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

GlobalGAP

A widely requested, globally recognized Good Agricultural Practices certification for primary agricultural producers (including crops, livestock, and aquaculture) to set up and maintain systems that meet safety and sustainability standards. Audited by a licensed third-party certification body. Enables companies to meet distributors’ requirements in terms of quality, food safety and environmental practices.

GlobalGAP

A widely requested, globally recognized Good Agricultural Practices certification for primary agricultural producers (including crops, livestock, and aquaculture) to set up and maintain systems that meet safety and sustainability standards. Audited by a licensed third-party certification body. Enables companies to meet distributors’ requirements in terms of quality, food safety and environmental practices.

SQF

Safe Quality Food (SQF) is a globally recognized food safety certification from the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) that covers all stages of the food supply chain ranging from primary production through to food manufacturing, distribution, food packaging and retail.

NSF

A certification for businesses by the accredited National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) organization for compliance with strict safety and operational standards through ongoing product and worksite inspections. Safe Quality Food (SQF) is one standard specific to food, and one of the many certifications that NSF includes.

Buy BC

A province-wide marketing program to promote B.C. food and beverages to ensure consumers can easily identify and enjoy local food products. Businesses that produce or process food or beverage products in B.C. are eligible to apply to a to use the Buy BC logo for their product packaging.

GS-1

An organization that develops and maintains global standards for product barcodes, identification numbers, and other services that enable product and traceability information to be shared between businesses.

Certified organic

Organic certification that ensures the integrity of organic products from field to table, and determines the basic requirements for organic food production systems. Certification of organic farms is carried out by third-party certification bodies which have been approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Fairtrade

Fairtrade Standards are designed to aid the sustainable development of smaller producers and agricultural workers in third world countries aiming at creating greater equity in the international trading system. The Fairtrade Certified Mark is the North American equivalent of the International Fairtrade Certification Mark.

Gluten -Free

The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) uses quality assessment and control measures to assure consumers that their food is safe within North America. Certification involves risk assessments, plant audits and equipment and product testing, both at the plant and at the point of consumer purchase. Finished products bearing the GFCO logo must contain 10 ppm or less of gluten.

BC VQA

BC Vintners Quality Alliance: The appellation of origin and quality standard for B.C Wine. BC VQA certified wines must meet standards with respect to their origin, vintage, varietals, packaging, and quality; they must be assessed by a qualified panel and meet the criteria for quality characteristics.

Ocean Wise

A sustainable seafood certification that provides rankings for species by assessing the impacts of seafood’s product on aquatic organisms and ecosystems.

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

As a global non-profit, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) provides a third-party sustainable fisheries certification. Three main principles must be met to achieve certification: Sustainable fish stock harvesting, minimizing environmental impact, and effective management of sustainable fishing practices.

Product categories

Beverages

Examples include:

Alcoholic beverages: Beer, ciders & coolers, spirits, wine
Coffee/tea/substitutes: Non-alcoholic beverages, fruit juice, water, other non-alcoholic beverages

Bread & Bakery Products

Examples include:

Baking, baking mixes, supplies
Biscuits, cookies, pastries
Bread
Other bakery products

Cereal & Grains

Examples include:

Grains, flour, pulse products
Processed cereals

Confectionary Products

Examples include:

Candy
Chocolate
Sugar/sugar substitutes

Dairy Products, Eggs (and alternatives)

Examples include:

Butter/butter substitutes
Cheese/cheese substitutes
Cream/cream substitutes
Dairy derivatives/by products
Eggs/eggs extracts/substitutes
Milk/milk substitutes
Yogurt/yogurt substitutes

Fish & Seafood

Examples include:

Aquaculture:

Unprepared/unprocessed
Prepared/processed

Wild Commercial Fisheries Production:

Unprepared/unprocessed
Prepared/processed

Meat, Poultry, & Plant-based proteins

Examples include:

Beef, chicken, pork, meat, plant-based protein, other

Meat/Poultry, other animals

Unprepared/unprocessed
Prepared/processed

Nuts & Seeds

Examples include:

Unprepared/unprocessed
Prepared/processed

Prepared Foods

Examples include:

Desserts/dessert, sauces/toppings
Dough based products/meals
Grain based products/meals
Meat substitutes
Pasta/noodles
Prepared soups
Prepared meal solutions
Snacks
Sweet spreads/jams
Honey

Sauces, Dressings, & Seasonings

Examples include:

Herbs/spices/extracts/salts
Oils/vinegars/cooking wines
Pickles/relishes/chutneys
Sauces/spreads/dips/condiments

Fruits & Vegetables

Fruit:

Fresh:
- Unprepared/unprocessed
- Prepared/processed
Prepared/Processed:
- Frozen
- Shelf stable

Examples include:

Berries, grapes, tree fruits, other fruits

Vegetables: Field Grown

Fresh:
- Unprepared/unprocessed
- Prepared/processed
Prepared/Processed:
- Frozen
- Shelf stable

Examples include:

Beans, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, corn, parsnips, peas, potatoes, rutabaga, turnips, yellow onions

Vegetables: Greenhouse Grown

Fresh:
- Unprepared/unprocessed
- Prepared/processed
Prepared/Processed:
- Frozen
- Shelf stable

Examples include:

Cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, others