What Regulations Govern Food Warehousing in Canada

When food and beverage products are shipped and/or stored during the course of shipping, the manufacturer and the 3PL shipping and logistics company have a lot more to worry about than they do for shipping, say, widgets. Food has to be kept safe, free from tampering, often at a special temperature, and may need special handling as well. 

Because of all the things that can go wrong, and the risk to the consumer, there are regulations in place that govern how food products should be stored, shipped, and handled. And that is what we are going to talk about today in our blog. 

SFCA 

In Canada, the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) is what governs the warehousing of food products. This legislation consolidates a number of previous laws into one document. Fundamentally, companies that handle food have to take precautions to keep the food safe, keep written documentation to that effect, be able to trace all food products throughout their shipping journey, and shipping companies have to be licensed to handle food by demonstrating their capacity to manage and implement SFCA rules. 

HACCP 

HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. HACCP represents international standards for the handling of food in shipping and warehousing. 3PL companies with HACCP certification (like us) demonstrate a keen understanding of the food storage and transportation risks and processes and are regularly audited to show that these companies meet the highest standards for food product handling. 

If you have food products that are being shipped, you will want your shipping and logistics partner to have a clear understanding of SFCA laws and also to be certified under HACCP. This is how you know that your food products will be handled according to the highest international standards for safety. 

Pacific Coast Distribution, based in Langley, BC, on the Lower Mainland, is a proud asset-based 3PL company, and can help you with your shipping and logistics and warehousing needs. We are very experienced with handling food and beverage products. Call us at (877) 999-8489 if you need help moving your products quickly and efficiently. 

Pacific Coast Distribution, LTD, is a family-owned transportation and logistics company, based in Langley, British Columbia, with 20 years of experience and a fleet of 50 trucks and a 60,000-square-foot warehouse. 

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about your transportation and freight needs, give us a call at (877) 999-8489.