Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP)
Celiac Canada works to ensure safe, gluten-free food is affordable and accessible.
Look for the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP) logo on food products and know they meet strict standards.
The Gluten-Free Certification Program, a food safety-based gluten management system for manufacturers, was created by Celiac Canada and the Allergen Control Group. It is lisenced to Beyond Celiac in the US, making it the first and only North American program endorsed by leading celiac disease organizations in both the US and Canada.
GFCP is a management system and facility-based certification. This means that the program does not rely solely on product testing to ensure safety, but examines the entire practices and production process of the facility – from ingredient sourcing to employee training, cleaning practices, cross-contact controls, operational management and finally, an effective end-to-end testing plan.
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The Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP) is intended to be differentiated from the increasing clutter of gluten-free claims in today’s marketplace by using the Trusted Mark of the Celiac Canada (CCA).
The GFCP has been designed to differentiate itself from other certification programs with a foundation based on proven Canadian regulatory and private sector adopted Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems. This approach is preventative in nature and addresses all potential hazards, including gluten, as part of a manufacturers overall safety and quality management system. When combining this approach with analytical testing procedures for incoming ingredients, as well as in-process and finished products the GFCP provides added assurance that the products carrying the mark are both safe and gluten-free.
Another key differentiator of the GFCP is that it does not allow the intentional addition of gluten, in any concentration, in products bearing the CCA trademark. This restriction also applies to ingredients which have been processed to remove gluten. This means that celiac and non-celiac, gluten-sensitive consumers can purchase these products with confidence.
A manufacturing facility which achieves certification to the GFCP has exclusive rights to use the Celiac Canada’s trademark on product packaging and on marketing/advertising materials.
BRCGS is the company that currently owns the program and Celiac Canada owns the GFCP trademark. The program follows gluten levels set by Health Canada. BRCGS works with food manufacturers to certify all GFCP products.
Click here to learn about Health Canada’s Position on Gluten-Free Claims.
Listen in as A Canadian Celiac Podcast Chats with BRCGS.
Mar 22, 2023 – Sue Jennett, A Canadian Celiac Podcast
“When I was at the 50th Anniversary kickoff for Celiac Canada I spoke with the Technical Manager for the Gluten Free Certification with BRCGS. His name is Barry Meikle and I had so many questions. On Episode 176, I spoke with John Murthy from BRCGS in London, so it was appropriate to now speak with Barry to get the Canadian/North American take on Gluten Free Certification. We talk about how the program works and what assurances you can get from purchasing products with the CCA Gluten Free symbol.”
Jun 9, 2021 – Sue Jennett, A Canadian Celiac Podcast
On this episode I speak with Jon Murthy, Head of Global Marketing for BRCGS. This is the organization that certifies foods for the CCA gluten free logo, as part of their many certification programs. Originally, this operation was performed by a relatively small, but knowledgeable group in Canada, but moving this important function to a multi-national, multi-discipline certification body, brings an entirely new perspective to gluten free food safety. Jon discusses the process a company must go through to achieve certification, as well as the complexities of companies producing and exporting ingredients and prepared foods to maintain their certification status. This global perspective is a complicated concept, but BRCGS certainly seems up to the international challenge.
