Local Supplier Food Safety Support Pilot Program

Description

producers meet food safety requirements they need to get more of their products to local and global markets. The departments of Growth and Development and Agriculture have partnered with Perennia Food and Agriculture Corp. on the two-year pilot program for Nova Scotia food and beverage producers. The program will help with costs related to food safety standards such as training, assessment, program development, audit fees and facility upgrades. The support will help more local producers meet provincial and federal food safety standards that can be a barrier to growing their business.

FUNDING PROGRAM OBJECTIVE Assist Nova Scotia-based farm, seafood and food and beverage companies to meet and maintain the food safety requirements for a specific retailer (e.g. Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, Costco, Walmart) or customer (e.g. Sysco, Gordon Food Services, institutions) with the goal of providing safe high-quality local products to Nova Scotia consumers. 

 

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS All applicants must: 

• be at least 19 years of age

 • be producing a retail ready food product 

• be eligible for and enrolled in the Nova Scotia Loyal Program (https://portal.nsloyal.ca/producers/register) 

• demonstrate they are meeting the food safety requirements of an existing retail or food service customer and/or working to obtain product listing with a new retail or food service contract Additionally For Food and Beverage Businesses: 

• be registered through Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stocks Additionally For Farm Businesses: 

• be currently and properly registered in the correct income category under the Nova Scotia Farm Registration Act Additionally For Seafood Businesses:

 • be currently appropriately licensed and in good standing with the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 

 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Funding is provided for businesses who are looking to achieve and/or maintain food safety standards to meet current or new retailer or institutional food safety requirements. Please make note of which activities below are specific to your situation. Funding support of up to 70% of eligible costs is available for a variety of activities, with specific maximums per activity. The total available to any company will not exceed $20,000 over the duration of the program. 

The program is open for the 2025-26 and 2026- 27 fiscal years. Once funding is expended the program will close. Funding for the program is limited and the final decision to support will be determined by Perennia. 

Excluding training costs, no more than 80% of non-repayable funding can be received for eligible costs incurred and paid for by the applicant, regardless of source. Applicants are required to disclose all funding sources. 

 

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES Component 1: 

Training Eligible training will be funded at 100% of registration fees to a maximum of $2,200 per applicant for the duration of the program.

 TRAINING Available to all applicants The following Perennia courses are eligible for funding. Developing and Implementing Preventive Controls / Prerequisite Programs This training session will help ensure companies understand how to develop, implement, and document preventive controls to prevent, control and mitigate food safety risks. (4 half days - virtual) Developing a HACCP Plan/Preventive Control Plan This training session will help ensure companies understand the risks to food safety and how these are identified, controlled, and documented. Control measures are based on internationally recognized HACCP principles. (2 days in person, food provided) HACCP Refresher (available only to persons who have previously completed both of the above courses or equivalent training) 

This training session is to assist companies with the maintenance and re-assessment of their HACCP-based Food Safety Management Systems, meeting both customer requirements and regulatory requirements. (3.5 hours – virtual) The first two courses should be taken in order. To qualify for the HACCP Refresher, the attendee must supply satisfactory evidence of having completed the first two courses (or equivalent training modules from another provider). 

It is the responsibility of the applicant to register for the training sessions at https://www.perennia.ca/learning/quality-andfood-safety-learning-opportunities/ (many courses are offered, please take care to choose from the above mentioned titles). 

Receipts can be submitted for reimbursement for the course cost with a certificate of completion. 

Travel expenses are not covered. 2 Component 2: Cost-Shared Funding Activities in this category are meant to assist applicants to meet or maintain food safety requirements. 

When choosing suppliers or providers for these activities, applicants should demonstrate a preference for Nova Scotia based businesses. Eligible activities will be funded at 70% of eligible costs up to the maximum noted in each category. 

AUDIT FEE SUPPORT 70% of eligible audit costs to a maximum of $3,500 per applicant for the duration of the program

Available to all applicants Eligible costs include a third-party audit conducted by a recognized certification body, as per retailer (e.g. Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, Costco, Walmart) or food service company/institutional (e.g., Sysco, Gordon Food Services, universities, hospitals, etc.) requirements. 

Audits are to be performed by an accredited certification body.

 

GENERAL FOOD SAFETY SUPPORT 70% of eligible food safety support costs to a maximum of $5,000 per applicant for the duration of the program 

• Available to applicants currently meeting retailer requirements by consistently passing their required third-party audits 

• Applicants must choose this eligible activity or Food Safety Program Development – expenses cannot be claimed under both This is for companies with a strong food safety program in need of additional consultant/specialist support. 

Such support could include program maintenance, audit preparation (i.e. preaudit assessments, internal audit, validations, risk assessments, employee training), or assistance with addressing corrective action reports or non-conformances that arise from an audit or regulatory inspection. Additionally, this component can assist companies with a strong program to meet food safety requirements for a new retail market or to enter the institutional market. The goal is for companies to continue to successfully pass their audit to maintain their market and open new ones which may require different food safety requirements. Quotes need to itemize tangible deliverables and do not include consultant/specialist consumables or expenses. 

FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT 70% of eligible food safety program development costs to a maximum of $15,000 per applicant for the duration of the program

 • Available to applicants currently selling in retail markets but not meeting retailer requirements

 • Available to applicants producing a retail ready food product and actively working to obtain a product listing with a retail or food service contract

 • Applicants must choose this eligible activity or General Food Safety Support – expenses cannot be claimed under both This is for companies with incomplete food safety programs that are not meeting retail or institutional food safety requirements and who require more comprehensive support. 

Such support includes an assessment of the current food safety and quality management system against specific regulatory, retail or quality and food safety program requirements, in preparation for an audit to meet retailer or customer food safety requirements. The goal is for companies to be able to successfully pass their audit to achieve or maintain their market. Quotes need to itemize tangible deliverables and do not include consultant/specialist consumables or expenses. 

FACILITY UPGRADES TO MEET FOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS 70% of eligible facility upgrade costs to a maximum of $15,000 per applicant for the duration of the program Available to all applicants Includes facility upgrades to meet food safety requirements as recommended in an assessment, audit or regulatory inspection, to safely process products to meet a retailer or food service company food safety program. 

This could include hand washing sinks, new doors or walls to meet food safety requirements, or equipment required to prevent condensation/food safety hazards, equipment to assist with traceability etc.

 

NELIGIBLE EXPENSES These include but are not limited to

: • cannabis products 

• administrative costs and general overhead 

• equipment purchase or rental not directly linked to resolving a food safety hazard 

• HST 

• in-kind contributions 

• operating expenses and existing staff salaries

 • tools not directly linked to resolving a food safety hazard 

• travel

 • marketing, advertising or retail displays 

• building repairs, renovations or construction not directly linked to resolving a food safety hazard APPLICATION PROCESS Eligible applicants are invited to apply by completing the application form available at: perennia.ca/supplierfoodsafety 

1. Submit a complete application by between May 1, 2025 and July 15, 2026. 

2. Provide quotes for eligible activities to be completed by auditors, consultants or for facility upgrades with your application

 3. If applying for training list which of the three courses you will attend and the number of people that intend to register for each Email the above to supplierfoodsafety@perennia.ca with Supplier Food Safety Program in the subject line (preferred method), or fax to 902-678-7266 or mail to: Perennia Supplier Food Safety Program 28 Aberdeen Street Kentville, NS B4N 2N1 Application Intake Activity Period Final Claim Deadline May 1, 2025 – July 15, 2026 April 1, 2025 – January 15, 2027* January 15, 2027 *Costs incurred before receiving a letter of agreement are at the discretion of the applicant and may not be funded.

 

 Note: Receipt of an application by the deadline does not mean the applicant is approved or that funds will be available. APPROVAL PROCESS 1. Applications are assessed by a review committee based on the information and supporting documentation provided. If an application requires further assessment or information, Perennia staff will follow up with the applicant. 2. If approved, applicants will receive a Letter of Agreement (LOA) which identifies the eligible project activities, assistance offered, and the terms and conditions under which assistance is approved. 3. Applicants must review, sign and return the LOA to Perennia within 30 days of the date of the letter or funding will be forfeited. CLAIMING PROCESS A Program Claim Form will be sent after Perennia receives your signed Letter of Agreement. Complete and submit the form when the project is complete. The final claim deadline is January 15, 2027. Interim claims will be accepted during the following months for project activities that are complete: October 2025, May 2026 and October 2026. 1. Complete and sign the Program Claim Form. 2. Include copies of invoices for all eligible project costs incurred and paid for by the applicant. The following are not acceptable: Purchase Orders, Sale Acknowledgements, Bills of Sale, Quotes, Estimates, Statements. 3. Include proof of payment for each invoice – e-transfer confirmation, EFT, debit card receipt, digital image of cleared cheques (front and back), wire transfer details or credit card/bank statements (invoices marked paid and signed by the supplier are not accepted). 4. Provide supporting documentation as required by Perennia with your claim. 5. Submit claims by email to supplierfoodsafety@perennia.ca with Supplier Food Safety Program in the subject line (preferred method), or fax to 902-678-7266 or mail to: Perennia Supplier Food Safety Program 28 Aberdeen Street Kentville, NS B4N 2N1 If for some reason email, fax and mail are not possible please call 902-670-9572 at least two business days before the claim deadline to discuss other options *No payment will be made for claims under $20.00