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CanadaGAP Certification: Food Safety Audits for Fresh Produce

CanadaGAP is a national, voluntary, HACCP-based food safety certification program for fresh fruits and vegetables, owned and managed by CanAgPlus, a Canadian not-for-profit. Kiwa ASI offers CanadaGAP audits to growers, packers, storages, repackers, wholesalers and brokers in Canada and the United States through TSLC, a CanadaGAP-licensed certification body that is now part of Kiwa ASI and is accredited by ANAB under ASI Food Safety, LLC (ISO/IEC 17065, ID 1222).

  • HACCP-Based
  • GFSI-Recognized Options B, C & D
  • ANAB-Accredited (ID 1222)
  • Version 11.0 Since April 2026
  • Canada & United States

Last updated September 29, 2026

Get a CanadaGAP Audit Quote

A CanadaGAP specialist will reach out to discuss your operation, certification option, audit timing and pricing.

What Is CanadaGAP Certification?

CanadaGAP® certification verifies that a company growing, packing, storing, repacking, wholesaling or brokering fresh fruits and vegetables follows the CanadaGAP food safety manuals: Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for production, packing and storage, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and HACCP for repacking and wholesaling. The program is owned and managed by CanAgPlus, a Canadian not-for-profit, and was developed by the Canadian Horticultural Council (now Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada).

CanadaGAP is voluntary, and Options B, C and D are recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). Many buyers ask their produce suppliers for a recognized, often GFSI-recognized, food safety certification, and CanadaGAP is widely used to meet that requirement in Canada, with about 3,000 companies participating. Audits currently use Version 11.0, in effect since April 1, 2026. See how CanadaGAP fits within GFSI certification.

TSLC has become part of Kiwa ASI.

Kiwa ASI announced on January 20, 2026 that TSLC (TSL Certification Services International Canada Ltd.) has become part of Kiwa ASI. If you've worked with TSLC before, you'll keep working with the same TSLC audit and certification team, now backed by the broader resources and technical expertise of Kiwa ASI.

  • HACCP-Based Standards

    CanadaGAP's manuals are built from generic HACCP models, so farms, packinghouses and storages follow a hazard analysis that's already done. Repackers and wholesalers keep their own site-specific HACCP plan.

  • Whole, Raw Produce

    Covers production, packing, storage, repacking, wholesaling and brokerage of whole, raw fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh-cut and other minimally processed products are out of scope.

  • GFSI-Recognized Options

    Version 11.0 was recognized against GFSI Benchmarking Requirements v2024 on July 8, 2026, for Options B, C and D. Options A1, A2, E and F aren't GFSI-recognized.

  • Market Access

    Accepted by major Canadian retailers and export buyers, often as one of several GFSI-recognized options. CanadaGAP is voluntary, not a legal requirement.

Trusted by Growers Across Canada

What CanadaGAP clients say about working with the TSLC/Kiwa ASI Canada team.

Show more client reviews (3)(5) Show fewer reviews
  • We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to the TSLC/Kiwa ASI Canada team for an excellent CanadaGAP audit experience. The entire team was exceptional—professional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the process. Our auditor in particular conducted the audit with great attention to detail and professionalism. We understand that occasional oversights can happen, but what truly stood out was the team’s willingness to assist promptly and effectively. That kind of responsiveness speaks volumes about TSLC/Kiwa ASI Canada’s commitment to its clients and reinforces our confidence in working with you. Thank you again for your dedication and support.

    Greenhill Produce (Thamesville) Ltd
  • TSLC/Kiwa ASI Canada service has been excellent, consistently providing prompt responses to inquiries and addressing any issues that arise. Additionally, the auditor has demonstrated professionalism and impressive knowledge in his field. Overall, I am very satisfied with your service. Thank you!

    12908824 Canada Inc.
  • We have enjoyed switching to TSLC/Kiwa ASI Canada, everyone on email replies promptly and professionally and we received our certificate in a significant faster time frame.

    CanadaGAP client

Need the Costco Produce Addendum? We've Got You Covered.

We now offer Costco Produce Addendum audits to support growers, packers, and suppliers meeting Costco's supplier requirements. Our team will explain Costco's expectations and audit timing so the process runs smoothly and efficiently.

Costco's Global Food Safety Audit Expectations list TSLC, now part of Kiwa ASI, as an approved certification body for produce. Costco accepts CanadaGAP Options B and C with the Costco Produce Addendum, audited together with your CanadaGAP audit, and requires a corrective action plan for addendum findings regardless of your overall score. Costco also accepts CanadaGAP Option D (repacking and wholesaling) for warehouse, storage and distribution operations, with no addendum.

Whether you're adding the Costco requirement to an existing certification or preparing for your first audit, we provide clear, consistent communication about scope, timing and findings.

Pollinator Health Addendum Checklist

The CanadaGAP Addendum for Pollinator Health (IPM) is CanadaGAP's optional add-on checklist for on-site audits under Options C and E, available since April 1, 2025. The IPM Institute of North America has approved it as meeting Walmart's requirements for protecting pollinator health. It's never added automatically: ask your certification body to include it with your annual audit, for an extra fee.

CanadaGAP updates the checklist as needed. Review it before your audit so you're well prepared.

CanadaGAP Certified by Kiwa ASI

Through TSLC, now part of Kiwa ASI, we certify over 30% of CanadaGAP-certified operations (782 of the 2,467 on CanadaGAP's September 2026 certified companies list), and we're a trusted certification partner for growers, packers, wholesalers and brokers across Canada. Our public registry of certified companies reflects our commitment to transparency and food safety excellence. Download the Kiwa ASI CGAP Online Registry to see the operations we certify.

ASI Food Safety, LLC is accredited by ANAB to ISO/IEC 17065 (accreditation ID 1222) for the CanadaGAP program, Version 11.0. TSLC, the CanadaGAP-licensed certification body, is accredited under ASI Food Safety, LLC.

ANAB Accredited: ISO/IEC 17065 Product Certification Body #1222

What Are the CanadaGAP Certification Options?

CanadaGAP has seven certification options (Option A3 is discontinued). They share the same food safety requirements; what differs is the audit cycle, the pass score and GFSI recognition. Option B adds group management system requirements. See CanadaGAP's certification options for the full rules.

  • Option A1 85% to pass

    Four-Year Cycle

    Not GFSI-recognized

    Full on-site audit in Year 1, then a sworn declaration and self-assessment in Years 2–4, reviewed by the certification body. The operation can be picked for a random audit.

  • Option A2 85% to pass

    Four-Year Cycle, Reset by Random Audit

    Not GFSI-recognized

    Same as Option A1, except that a random audit restarts the four-year cycle from the date of that audit.

  • Option B 100% compliance

    Group Certification

    GFSI-recognized

    The group internally audits every member and its group management system each year. The certification body audits the group management system and a risk-based sample of members every year.

  • Option C 100% compliance

    Annual Audit: Production, Packing and Storage

    GFSI-recognized

    A yearly on-site audit for an individual farm, packinghouse or storage. The most common option: 62% of CanadaGAP participants chose it in 2025.

  • Option D 100% compliance

    Annual Audit: Repacking and Wholesaling

    GFSI-recognized

    A yearly on-site audit for an individual repacker or wholesaler, which also keeps a site-specific HACCP plan. Not open to brokers since April 1, 2022.

  • Option E 95% to pass

    Annual Audit, Non-GFSI

    Not GFSI-recognized

    The same food safety requirements and yearly on-site audit as Option C, for buyers that don't require GFSI recognition.

  • Option F 95% to pass

    Annual Audit: Repacking, Wholesaling or Brokerage

    Not GFSI-recognized

    The same requirements as Option D, with a yearly on-site audit and no GFSI recognition. The only CanadaGAP option for brokers.

Important: Options B, C and D are GFSI-recognized. If your buyers require GFSI-recognized certification, you must be enrolled in one of these three. No option allows an autofail item, and every certificate is valid for 12 months.

Who Needs CanadaGAP Certification?

CanadaGAP is open to operations in Canada and elsewhere, including the United States, that grow, pack, store, repack, wholesale or broker whole, raw fresh fruits and vegetables. If your buyers ask for CanadaGAP, or for GFSI-recognized certification (Options B, C or D), it's the standard built for your industry.

  • Producers & Growers

    Field, Orchard & Vineyard Operations

    Operations growing fresh fruits and vegetables in fields, orchards and vineyards. The requirements cover water quality, soil and growing media, crop protection products, fertilizers and biosolids, and harvest hygiene. Commodity groups include potatoes, leafy vegetables and cruciferae (except microgreens), small fruit, tree and vine fruit, and combined vegetables such as asparagus, sweet corn, legumes, and bulb, root and fruiting vegetables.

  • Greenhouse Operations

    Controlled-Environment Growers

    Greenhouse growers follow CanadaGAP's Food Safety Manual for Greenhouse Product (Version 11.0), which covers leafy vegetables and cruciferae (no microgreens), small fruit, legumes, bulb and root vegetables, and fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

  • Packinghouses

    Packing Facilities

    On- and off-farm packinghouses that wash, sort, grade, trim inedible parts, wax and pack whole produce. The requirements cover facility design, sanitation, pest management, equipment maintenance, temperature control and water for post-harvest handling.

  • Storage Facilities

    Cold Storage Operations

    Warehouses and cold storages that hold whole produce, including controlled-atmosphere storage. The requirements cover temperature monitoring, sanitation, pest management and chemical storage.

  • Repacking Operations

    Repackers & Wholesalers

    Facilities that receive packed whole produce and repack, relabel or repackage it for retail or foodservice. Repackers keep a site-specific HACCP plan and are certified under Option D (GFSI-recognized) or F.

  • Wholesalers

    Wholesale Distribution Operations

    Wholesale produce distributors managing incoming and outgoing product, storage conditions, supplier control and traceability. Like repackers, they keep a site-specific HACCP plan.

  • Brokers

    Produce Brokerage Operations

    Companies that arrange sales between suppliers and buyers without physically handling product. Brokerage requirements, such as buying from certified suppliers and keeping traceability records, are part of the CanadaGAP manuals. Brokers are certified under Option F and don't need a site-specific HACCP plan.

Out of scope: minimally processed or fresh-cut produce, sprouts, microgreens, enoki mushroom repacking, produce in hermetically sealed containers, aquaponics, and field-dried beans and peas.

Buyers: CanadaGAP reports strong support from major Canadian buyers such as Loblaw, Metro, Sobeys and Walmart, which accept it alongside other GFSI-recognized programs. Costco accepts CanadaGAP Options B and C (with the Costco Produce Addendum) and Option D for warehouse, storage and distribution. CanadaGAP also serves suppliers to foodservice and exporters whose buyers require GFSI-recognized certification (Options B, C or D).

What Are the Advantages of CanadaGAP Certification?

CanadaGAP certification gives buyers independent evidence that your produce is grown, packed and stored under verified food safety controls.

  • Retail & Buyer Access

    Many Canadian retailers, foodservice companies and processors require suppliers to hold a recognized, often GFSI-recognized, food safety certification, and CanadaGAP is widely used to meet that requirement. It's open to operations outside Canada too, so U.S. growers and packers exporting to Canada or growing across North America can enroll and pay program fees in U.S. dollars.

  • GFSI Recognition

    Options B, C and D are GFSI-recognized, for farming of plants and pre-process handling of plant products, so a B, C or D certificate can satisfy buyers that require a GFSI-recognized scheme (some buyers, like Costco, add their own addendum).

  • Reduced Food Safety Risk

    A HACCP-based system identifies and controls biological, chemical and physical hazards across your operation, from field to shipment.

  • Regulatory Alignment

    The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) found CanadaGAP 100% aligned with the food safety elements of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and has recognized it as a model system. Certification doesn't replace an SFC licence if your business needs one, and CFIA can still inspect.

  • Consumer Confidence

    Certification signals that your produce is grown, handled and stored under verified food safety controls, strengthening your brand with buyers and consumers.

  • Continuous Improvement

    Every option includes certification body oversight each year: an annual on-site audit (Options C–F), annual internal and sampling audits (Option B), or a four-year audit cycle with CB-reviewed self-assessments (Options A1 and A2). An annual internal audit and mock recall keep your system current in between.

What Does a CanadaGAP Audit Cover?

A CanadaGAP audit is an on-site assessment of your operation against the CanadaGAP food safety manuals and audit checklist, both Version 11.0 since April 1, 2026. Its scope depends on your operation type and commodities, and it must take place while those activities are happening: activities that aren't occurring can't be included in the scope. Most straightforward on-farm audits take about a half day (3.5 hours); packing, repacking or wholesaling and more complex operations usually take at least a full day (7 hours).

Key Audit Areas

Audit areaKey focus
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)Water quality and testing, soil and growing media, crop protection products, fertilizers and biosolids, field harvesting practices and worker hygiene in production
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)Packinghouse and storage facility design, sanitation and cleaning programs, pest management, equipment maintenance, temperature monitoring and water quality for post-harvest handling
HACCP-based food safety programFarms, packinghouses and storages complete the manual sections and forms that apply, using CanadaGAP's built-in HACCP models; repackers and wholesalers keep a site-specific HACCP plan (Section 24.1). All operations review their program every year
Traceability & recallLot identification, one-step-forward and one-step-back traceability, current supplier and customer lists, and a mock recall on the current season's product every year
Personnel & trainingStaff hygiene practices, food safety training records, visitor policies, protective clothing and evidence that employees understand their contamination prevention responsibilities
Suppliers & incoming materialsIncoming material checks, approved supplier lists, documentation for purchased inputs (packaging, chemicals, water treatment products) and letters of assurance
Internal auditAn annual internal audit (pre-audit) of the entire operation, as Section 24 requires
Documentation & recordsManual sections, forms, receipts, letters of assurance and certificates kept for at least four years, with at least three months of records before your first audit

Scoring & Pass Requirements

The pass score depends on your certification option, and no option allows an autofail item:

Certification optionPass scoreAdditional requirements
Options B, C and D100% complianceNo autofails. 100% can be reached by closing corrective action requests or with a CB-approved corrective action plan
Options E and F95%No autofails. A CB-approved corrective action plan is allowed
Options A1 and A285%No autofails. Corrective actions must actually be taken; no corrective action plan

Any autofail item fails the audit regardless of the overall score, and it must be corrected before certification: a corrective action plan can never close an autofail. Certificates are valid for 12 months.

Autofails, Corrective Actions & Unannounced Audits

  • Autofail itemsAutomatic fail

    Checklist items for fundamental food safety risks. Failing any one fails the audit, whatever the overall score, and it must be corrected before certification.

  • Corrective action requests45 days (A1, A2, C–F)

    Options A1, A2 and C–F: send evidence of corrective actions (or, for C–F, a CB-approved corrective action plan) within 45 calendar days of receiving the audit report or before your season ends, whichever is sooner; the certification body closes CARs within 60 days of issuing the report. Option B groups must close CARs within 3 months of an initial audit and 28 days of a surveillance audit.

  • Unannounced auditsAll options

    Each year a certification body audits at least 10% of its Option C, D, E and F clients and 5% of its A1 and A2 clients unannounced, plus 25% of the Option B group members it samples. B, C and D clients get no notice of the day or time; A1, A2, E and F clients get 2 to 5 business days' notice.

The auditor and certification body must approve corrective actions before a certificate is issued. In exceptional cases, such as a significant capital investment like replacing a cooler or packing line, the certification body may allow more time to close CARs.

How Should You Prepare for a CanadaGAP Audit?

Whether you're certifying for the first time or preparing for your annual audit, a structured approach helps your operation perform at its best. You need at least three months of food safety records before your first audit, and the audit must be scheduled while your in-scope activities are underway.

  1. Step 1: Enroll in the Program and Get the Manuals

    Download the free CanadaGAP manuals (Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Greenhouse Product and the Appendices) and check the chart that shows which sections apply to your activities. To enroll, send the enrollment form and annual program fee to the CanadaGAP office, which forwards it to the certification body you choose.

  2. Step 2: Select Your Certification Option

    Choose Option A1, A2, B, C, D, E or F. If your buyers require GFSI-recognized certification, choose B, C or D. Option C is the most common path for individual farms, packinghouses and storages. Repackers and wholesalers typically choose D, and brokers must use F. Compare the options.

  3. Step 3: Conduct a Self-Assessment

    Use the CanadaGAP self-assessment checklist to compare your practices with each requirement. Kiwa ASI also offers optional pre-assessments that identify non-conformities before your certification audit; a pre-assessment reports findings only.

  4. Step 4: Build or Strengthen Your Food Safety System

    Farms, packinghouses and storages complete and keep up to date the manual sections and forms that apply; the hazard analysis is already built into CanadaGAP's generic HACCP models. Repackers and wholesalers develop, document and review each year a site-specific HACCP plan (Section 24.1). All operations review their food safety program at least once a year (Section 24.2).

  5. Step 5: Train Your Team

    Make sure field crews, packinghouse and storage staff and supervisors are trained in hygiene, food handling and their job tasks, and keep training records with your other food safety records.

  6. Step 6: Test Your Traceability System

    Run a mock recall on the current season's product to confirm you can trace product one step back to its source and one step forward to your customers, and keep your supplier and customer lists current. CanadaGAP requires a mock recall every year.

  7. Step 7: Complete Your Internal Audit

    Before the certification audit, carry out the annual internal audit (pre-audit) of your entire operation that Section 24 of the manual requires.

  8. Step 8: Schedule and Complete Your Kiwa ASI Audit

    Contact Kiwa ASI to confirm your scope and option, and choose an audit date while your in-scope activities, such as harvest, packing or storage, are underway. Activities that aren't happening on the audit day can't be certified.

  9. Step 9: Close Your Corrective Actions

    Except in Option B groups, send evidence of corrective actions, or a CB-approved corrective action plan where your option allows one, within 45 calendar days of receiving the audit report or before your season ends, whichever is sooner. Option B groups must close CARs within 3 months of an initial audit and 28 days of a surveillance audit.

Prepare for CanadaGAP Certification with Kiwa ASI Training

Live virtual Kiwa ASI courses for the HACCP and internal auditing skills the CanadaGAP program relies on. CanadaGAP doesn't require these particular courses, and Kiwa ASI training is delivered separately from certification.

HACCP

HACCP Certification Training

IHA-accredited HACCP certification based on Codex principles, the same principles CanadaGAP is built on. Most useful for repackers and wholesalers, who must keep a site-specific HACCP plan, and for Option B group internal auditors, who need training in HACCP principles.

16 contact hours · 4 half-days · Live via Zoom · 8:30 AM–12:30 PM CT · Certificate included

Upcoming dates$695 per seat
Internal Audit

Principles of Internal Auditing

Internal auditing skills based on ISO 19011 audit guidelines, which you can apply to the annual internal audit of your entire operation that CanadaGAP Section 24 requires.

1 day · Live online · 8:30 AM–2:30 PM CT

Upcoming dates$499 per seat

Need to train 6+ people? Ask about on-site private training.

Why Choose Kiwa ASI for CanadaGAP Certification?

Kiwa ASI delivers CanadaGAP audits through TSLC, a CanadaGAP-licensed certification body that is now part of Kiwa ASI and is accredited by ANAB under ASI Food Safety, LLC (ISO/IEC 17065, ID 1222). Through TSLC, we certify over 30% of CanadaGAP-certified operations (782 of the 2,467 on CanadaGAP's September 2026 certified companies list).

  • Partnership

    TSLC Is Now Part of Kiwa ASI

    TSLC clients keep the same TSLC audit and certification team, now backed by Kiwa ASI's broader resources. CanadaGAP lists TSLC as licensed in all provinces and in the U.S.

  • Experience

    Deep Roots in Canadian Produce

    TSLC's president was a founding member of the Canadian Horticultural Council's On-Farm Food Safety Committee and led one of the first certification bodies to offer CanadaGAP audits, in 2009. Clients point to our auditors' hands-on farming and produce industry experience.

  • Scheduling

    Season-Aware Scheduling

    CanadaGAP audits must take place while your in-scope activities are underway. Our scheduling team plans dates within your harvest, packing or storage season to limit disruption.

  • Preparation

    Optional Pre-Assessments

    An optional pre-assessment identifies non-conformities before your certification audit. It reports findings only; it doesn't include consulting.

  • Support

    Clear Communication

    Straightforward audit findings, clear corrective action requests and deadlines, and a responsive team for your certification questions.

  • Accreditation

    ANAB-Accredited

    ASI Food Safety, LLC holds ANAB ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation (ID 1222) for the CanadaGAP program, Version 11.0. See the certificate and registry.

Frequently Asked Questions About CanadaGAP Certification

What is CanadaGAP certification?

CanadaGAP is a national, voluntary food safety certification program for fresh fruits and vegetables, built on HACCP principles and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). It's owned and managed by CanAgPlus, a Canadian not-for-profit. The program covers companies that produce, pack, store, repack, wholesale and broker whole, raw fresh produce. Certification Options B, C and D are recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

Is CanadaGAP GFSI-recognized?

Yes, for three of its options. CanadaGAP Options B (group certification), C (annual on-site audit for production, packing and storage) and D (annual on-site audit for repacking and wholesaling) are GFSI-recognized. Version 11.0 was recognized against GFSI Benchmarking Requirements v2024 on July 8, 2026, for scopes BI (Farming of Plants) and BIII (Pre-process Handling of Plant Products). Options A1, A2, E and F are valid CanadaGAP certifications but aren't GFSI-recognized, so if your buyers require GFSI-recognized certification, you must be enrolled in Option B, C or D.

What is the difference between CanadaGAP certification options?

CanadaGAP has seven certification options (A1, A2, B, C, D, E and F) with the same food safety requirements; they differ in audit frequency, structure and GFSI recognition. Options A1 and A2 use a four-year cycle, with a full on-site audit in Year 1 and self-assessments in between, and need 85% to pass. Options B, C and D are GFSI-recognized, have annual audits and need 100% compliance. Options E and F have annual audits, aren't GFSI-recognized and need 95%. Option B is for groups. Option F covers repacking, wholesaling or brokerage and is the only option for brokers. See the certification options.

What score do I need to pass a CanadaGAP audit?

It depends on your option. Options B, C and D need 100% compliance with the audit checklist; you can reach 100% by closing corrective action requests or with a corrective action plan the certification body approves. Options A1 and A2 need at least 85%, and Options E and F at least 95%. No option allows an autofail item: failing any autofail item fails the audit regardless of your overall score.

How long does a CanadaGAP audit take?

Most straightforward on-farm audits take about a half day (3.5 hours), which is the minimum per site. Packing, repacking or wholesaling and more complex operations usually take at least a full day (7 hours), and so does an Option B group management system audit. The certification body sets the duration when it scopes your audit, based on your activities, commodities and sites.

What happens if I receive a corrective action request (CAR)?

In Options A1, A2 and C to F, send evidence of your corrective actions within 45 calendar days of receiving the audit report, or before your season ends if that's sooner. For items that can't be fixed until next season, Options C to F may submit a corrective action plan instead; the certification body must approve it and verifies it at your next audit. Options A1 and A2 can't use a plan, and autofails must always be corrected. Except for Option B groups, the certification body closes out CARs within 60 days of issuing the report and can allow longer in exceptional cases, such as a significant capital investment. Option B groups have separate deadlines: CARs must be closed within 3 months of an initial audit and 28 days of a surveillance audit.

How much does CanadaGAP certification cost?

There are three parts. (1) CanadaGAP's annual program fee, paid at enrollment and every year after: CAD 350 (USD 300) for Options C and E, CAD 1,000 (USD 865) for D and F, CAD 750 (USD 625) for A1 and A2, and CAD 4,000 (USD 3,400) for an Option B group's first 25 members plus CAD 800 (USD 690) for each additional 25, plus $75 per site for multi-site certification (any option except B). (2) The certification body's fees for the audit, auditor travel and follow-up, billed after the audit. (3) A $50 FVGC charge per operation per year for Options A1, A2, B, C and E. These CanadaGAP fees have applied since September 1, 2025; see CanadaGAP's certification costs. For an audit quote, call 1 (800) 477-0778 or email CA.Info.TSLC@kiwa-asi.com (Canada) or US.Info@kiwa-asi.com.

What is the current version of the CanadaGAP standard?

Version 11.0. It took effect on April 1, 2026 for the CanadaGAP Food Safety Manuals (Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, and Greenhouse Product), the Audit Checklist and the Program Management Manual; the manuals were released on January 29, 2026. CanadaGAP doesn't reissue its manuals every year: Version 10.0 from 2023 stayed current through 2025. When it does update them, the new version usually comes out in early February and takes effect April 1.

Does Kiwa ASI offer Costco Produce Addendum audits?

Yes. Costco's Global Food Safety Audit Expectations (Version 3.0, effective September 1, 2025) list TSLC, now part of Kiwa ASI, as an approved certification body for produce. Costco accepts CanadaGAP Options B and C for produce farms and packing with the Costco Produce Addendum, audited together with your CanadaGAP audit, and it requires a corrective action plan for addendum findings regardless of your overall score. Costco also accepts CanadaGAP Option D (repacking and wholesaling) for warehouse, storage and distribution operations, with no addendum. Download the Costco documents.

Can I transfer my CanadaGAP certification to Kiwa ASI?

Yes. Send CanadaGAP's Change of Status form to the CanadaGAP office and choose TSLC (Kiwa ASI) as your new certification body, then share your previous audit reports, corrective action reports and certificates. Your first audit with us is scoped like a new client's, and each crop or activity must be seen before it goes on your certificate. Options C, D, E and F can change certification body from year to year. Option A1 and A2 operations that move before four years restart at Year 1 with a full on-site audit, and Option B groups return to initial-audit requirements. Start early: if you begin well before your season and before your certificate expires, CanadaGAP asks your current certification body to keep your certification in place until we complete your audit.

Does every CanadaGAP operation need its own HACCP plan?

No. CanadaGAP is built on HACCP principles, and its manuals come from generic, commodity-specific HACCP models, so farms, packinghouses and storages don't need to write their own HACCP plan. Repacking and wholesaling operations must develop, document and review each year a site-specific HACCP plan (manual Section 24.1). Brokers don't need one.

What products and activities does CanadaGAP not cover?

CanadaGAP covers whole, raw fresh fruits and vegetables only. It doesn't cover minimally processed or fresh-cut produce, sprouts, microgreens (excluded since 2020), repacking of enoki mushrooms, produce in hermetically sealed containers, aquaponic production, or field-dried beans and peas. For growing, only the commodities listed in the manuals can be certified.

Are CanadaGAP audits unannounced?

Some are, in every option. Each year a certification body must audit unannounced at least 10% of its Option C, D, E and F clients and 5% of its Option A1 and A2 clients, plus 25% of the Option B group members it samples. Option B, C and D clients selected for an unannounced audit are told early in the year but get no notice of the day or time. Usually the unannounced audit replaces that year's scheduled audit and you can request up to 5 blackout dates; if the certification body offers it, you can instead add an unannounced audit within a window of about 30 days. Option A1, A2, E and F clients get 2 to 5 business days' notice.

How many months of records do I need before my first CanadaGAP audit?

At least three months of food safety records before the initial audit. Certification bodies normally allow some flexibility when a season is shorter than three months. After that, keep all manual sections, forms, receipts, letters of assurance and certificates for at least four years.

Can U.S. operations get CanadaGAP certified?

Yes. CanadaGAP enrolls operations outside Canada, and they can pay the annual program fee in U.S. dollars. U.S. participation grew 8.8% in 2024–25, according to CanadaGAP's 2025 annual report. Kiwa ASI offers CanadaGAP audits in Canada and the United States through TSLC, which CanadaGAP lists as licensed in all provinces and in the U.S.

Does CanadaGAP certification replace a Safe Food for Canadians licence?

No. CFIA found CanadaGAP 100% aligned with the food safety elements of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and has recognized it as a model system, but certification doesn't replace a licence under those regulations if your business needs one. Requirements outside food safety, such as grade standards and labelling, still apply, and CFIA can still inspect certified operations.

Ready to Schedule Your CanadaGAP Audit?

You know the steps. Request a quote or talk to our team about timing your audit within your season.

Standards & Trust

ASI Food Safety, LLC is accredited by ANAB to ISO/IEC 17065 (accreditation ID 1222) for the CanadaGAP program, Version 11.0. TSLC, the CanadaGAP-licensed certification body, is accredited under ASI Food Safety, LLC.

All consulting services are offered through ASI Training and Consulting, LLC. All activity is conducted separately from our accredited certification body, ASI Food Safety, LLC, in order to safeguard against any conflicts of interest.