Did You Know (FAQ)

Knowledge is Power

At Spectrum Quality Advisors, we do our best to keep our clients up to date on the latest information and regulatory changes from all industries, governments and associations across the continent. We also strive to take the guesswork out of the process by answering your most common and specialized questions:

Q. Where should I start implementing a HACCP System?

A. You need to figure out where you are at in your quality system first. A gap assessment will determine the difference between your current practice and those that should be in place when you conform to the new quality and HACCP requirements. Like climbing the highest mountain in Africa, you need a plan and it's done one step at a time...
More information on implementing a HACCP system
Q. How long does it take to implement a quality system?

A. Typically it takes 6 to 18 months to implement a quality system. It's really a matter of:
- The resources you have available to work on the implementation project
- Where you are starting from in your quality system maturity and effectiveness, and
- How long the list is of improvements and implementation actions needed to meet the quality requirements
Q. The new ISO standards are being revised/drafted, so should I hold off implementing my quality program or implement the existing standard?

A. You should not stop what you are doing. Anything you do to lay the foundation of a quality program will be beneficial. However, you should review the new requirements and conduct a gap assessment against your system and the new requirements to determine what else needs to be improved or implemented.

Submit your questions to qainfo@spectrumqa.com

Suggested Links

Organization	Sample Topics
AIB International	AIB International, as an organization, has more than 50 years experience in food safety with a worldwide presence.
Agriculture Canada	Food safety, biologics best practices, news releases, storage and research.
Alberta HACCP Advantage (AHA!)	Alberta HACCP Advantage (AHA!) is a program established by Alberta Agriculture and Food (AF), in cooperation with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to recognize HACCP systems implemented by Alberta food processors.
American Society of Quality (ASQ) - Calgary Chapter	A non-profit organization promoting quality discussion groups, meetings, tours, speakers, reference materials, certification and networking in Calgary
CFIA - Food Recalls	A listing of food recalls & allergy alerts in Canada
CFIA – Food Safety Enhancement Program (FSEP)	FSEP is CFIA’s approach to encourage and support the development, implementation and maintenance of HACCP systems in all federally registered establishments.
CFIA - Listing of Accepted Materials	A list of materials approved for use in Canadian food establishments
Codex Alimentarius	The Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963 by FAO and WHO to develop food standards, guidelines and related texts such as codes of practice under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program.
Direct Connect Consulting Inc.	A consortium of consultants in southern Alberta
Food Safety	Gateway to US Government Food Safety Information
Food Safety Network	A Canadian network of Food Safety databases, resources and articles
Health Canada	Health standards; drugs; food; product safety; natural health products, chemical hazards; medical devices
International Organization of Standardization (ISO)	International standards on quality, environment, HACCP, etc.
Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD)	The regulating authority for natural health products for sale in Canada
National Organic Program (NOP)	A set of national standards for foods sold in the US and labeled “organic”
Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI)	Provides a list of approved products for use in certified organic production, handling & processing
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations and Federal Register	Code Sections; Published Laws; U.S. Congress Information
U.S. Food and Drug Administration	Foods; Human Drugs; Animal Drugs; Cosmetics; Medical Devices; Radiological Health