The CQM program is an on-farm food safety program designed to help producers prevent, monitor and reduce food safety risks on their farms.

The CQM program is based on the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points), which is a science-based, preventative approach to food safety that focuses on preventing and minimizing the risk of food safety hazards. The CQM program is recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as being technically sound and based on science. Producers on the program strive to improve milk and meat safety on their farms by:

• Keeping permanent records to monitor critical control points
• Following best management practices related to milk and meat safety
• Developing standard operating procedures to identify tasks and responsibilities
• Developing corrective action plans to ensure that family and staff know what to do if something goes wrong

Dairy producers on the CQM program closely monitor the following key areas of milk and meat safety:

• Milking treated animals (prevention of residues in milk)
• Effective cooling and storage of milk
• Shipping animals (prevention of residues and physical hazards in meat)
• Use of livestock medicines and chemicals
• Rigorous sanitation of milking equipment
• Assessment of wash water for microbiological parameters

Producers also implement best management practices in other areas such as manure management, feeding, animal identification, medicine and chemical storage, milking, and staff training.

Producers on the CQM program:

• Say what they do
• Do what they say
• Prove they do it
• Improve it, if necessary 

Dairy producers care about the quality of their product. That's why the Canadian Quality Milk Program (CQM) is a priority of the BC Milk Producers Association. The program was developed by the Dairy Farmers of Canada and is recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It is an on-farm food safety program that helps producers prevent, monitor and reduce food safety risks on their farms. BC milk is already amongst the highest in quality across the country, and CQM is yet another measure towards improving the already high standards our farms employ.

For more information contact:

Carla DeGroot
Telephone: 604-293-2390
Fax: 1-866-873-7720
 

If you are a producer who has recently been validated, please complete the online survey found at the following link: CQM Validations Feedback Form

Once producers have implemented the CQM program on their farms, they can apply to become registered with the program. Producers who are registered with CQM have effectively implemented CQM on their farms, demonstrated through a validation that they comply with the requirements, and made a commitment to maintain the program.

After a producer applies for registration, the provincial association sends a validator to the farm to assess the farms compliance with the CQM requirements. Validators use a checklist similar to the questionnaire in the CQM workbook, and they review records, observe practices on the farm and interview personnel. Upon successful completion of the validation, the provincial association issues a farm-specific registration number and sends a CQM certificate to the farm. Registered producers then continue to maintain the program and keep records and they are validated every year to ensure they still meet requirements.

Registration with the CQM program does not indicate or imply the registration of products or guarantee the safety of any products.

Implementation of the CQM program will positively affect the entire Canadian dairy industry, and producers choosing to take the next step and become registered will be able to demonstrate their compliance with food safety requirements.

DFC is committed to maintaining and managing the CQM program effectively and efficiently to ensure dairy producers have a credible program that is consistently implemented across the country and is beneficial to all dairy producers.

Attached you will find the required records & forms for CQM

Water quality is an important issue for the Canadian Quality Milk Program. The program requires that all water used for milking equipment sanitation, regardless of source (city or well), must be tested yearly for microbiological standards, which are determined by the provincial health authority. To collect an appropriate sample, follow the instructions provided by the laboratory.

WATER TESTING LABORATORIES