(MAPAQ) - Food Processing Program - Component 3
At a glance
- From 7,500$ to 150,000$
- 50% of project cost
- Open Date : April 04, 2024
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Overview
Eligibility criteria
Eligible applicants Eligible applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Are companies registered with the Quebec Enterprise Register;
- Are applying for financial assistance for an establishment they operate in Quebec;
- Have been in operation for at least one full year (12 months);
- The establishment for which the application for financial assistance is submitted meets at least one of the following conditions:
o It carries out food processing activities, or at least two other activities recognized by the Ministry whose food products are, at the time of application, offered on the wholesale market or online;
o Operates a central kitchen.
Who is eligible
- Registered with the Quebec Enterprise Register.
- Operating an establishment in Quebec.
- Have operated an establishment for at least one full year (12 months).
- Applying for an establishment that carries out food processing activities or at least two other activities recognized by the Ministry, with products offered on the wholesale market or via online sales, or operating a central kitchen.
Who is not eligible
- Applicants whose establishment for which financial assistance is requested processes exclusively livestock feed;
- Applicants whose aquatic product processing establishments are located in maritime regions and whose main activity is the preparation and canning of aquatic products (NAICS code 3117);
- Government departments, budget-funded bodies, non-budget-funded bodies, Crown corporations listed in Schedules 1 to 3 of the Financial Administration Act (RLRQ, chapter A-6.001), corporations controlled directly or indirectly by a government (provincial or federal) or by a Crown corporation, as well as municipal entities;
- Financial cooperatives and banking institutions;
- Applicants registered in the Register of companies not eligible for public contracts (RENA), including their subcontractors registered in the RENA, accessible at the following address: https://amp.quebec/rena/;
- Applicants who, during the two years preceding the application for financial assistance, have failed to meet their obligations after having been duly put on notice by the Minister, and this in connection with a previous financial assistance granted by the latter;
- Applicants who are subject to an order issued by the Minister or a judge under the Animal Welfare and Safety Act (RLRQ, chapter B-3.1); 19
- Applicants who are for-profit companies with more than 100 employees, who are requesting financial assistance of $100,000 or more, and who are unable to meet the requirements of the Equal Access to Employment Program;
- Applicants who are under the protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (R.S.C. [1985], chapter C-36) or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (R.S.C. [1985], chapter B-3).
Eligible expenses
The following expenses are eligible: 20
- Those directly related to carrying out a project; - Those corresponding to the following items :
o Fees and travel expenses for external experts with no business ties to the applicant;
o The portion of the remuneration of in-house experts responsible for implementing the project that corresponds to time spent directly on carrying out the project. However, financial assistance for the services of in-house experts may not exceed 30% of total financial assistance;
o The design of plans and specifications for the project, if they have not been supported under Component 1;
o Rental costs for specialized equipment and premises for the duration of the project;
o Cost of materials;
o Purchase, modification, delivery and installation of new or used equipment, purchased from an equipment supplier and backed by a minimum three-month warranty;
o Modification or enlargement of the premises required for the project by a contractor holding the appropriate license from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec;
o Acquisition and rental of specialized software and equipment required to carry out the project;
o Subscription fees for specialized software for a maximum of one year;
o Staff training costs (training registration, teaching materials, access to a training platform and travel expenses in accordance with the rates set out in the Recueil des politiques de gestion du gouvernement du Québec);
o Purchase of laboratory equipment and physicochemical and microbiological analysis devices;
o Costs of analyses performed by an external laboratory with no business ties to the applicant;
o Certification fees from a recognized external organization.
Eligible projects & activities
To be eligible, projects must meet the following conditions:
- Eligible expenses must be at least $15,000;
- Have a maximum duration of 36 months from the date financial assistance is granted;
- Concern food processing activities or other activities recognized by the Ministry and carried out by the applicant;
- Consist of at least one of the following projects:
o Implementation of a basic food safety and quality management system that incorporates good manufacturing practices;
o Implementation of a preventive control plan;
o Implementation of one of the recognized food safety and quality management systems leading to certification or recognition, such as :
- Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), as well as any other HACCP-based or Ministry-recognized standard that meets the specific objective of this component;
- Standards recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI);
o Updating a food safety and quality management system as a result of:
- New requirements established by government agencies or recognized organizations;
- New version of a recognized standard;
- Plant modifications;
o Improvements required to comply with government market access requirements that differ from Canadian requirements;
o Implementation or updating of an organic certification system.
Eligible geographic areas
Companies in Quebec
Evaluation & selection criteria
Projects are submitted on an ongoing basis.
All complete applications for financial assistance, for which both the applicant and the project are eligible, will be analyzed by representatives of the Minister, based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of the project to the objective of the component;
- Feasibility, realism and viability of the project;
- Presence of the technical, organizational and administrative capacity required to carry out the project;
- The viability and financial performance of the applicant;
- correspondence between the planning form and the presentation of the project in the application for financial assistance. The Minister's decision will be communicated to the applicant by e-mail.
How to apply
On-line subscription, form sent via MAPAQ website - Processing takes 2 to 4 weeks. An advisor in charge of the application file will contact the applicant and follow up on the progress of each application.
- Preparation:
- Visit the program's webpage to download all required documents.
- Gather and prepare the necessary documents, such as the completed and signed financial aid application form, financing plan, financial statements verified by an external CPA, and additional specific documents for slaughterhouses and cheese factories if applicable.
- Support (Optional):
- Before submitting your application, you can request support by contacting Ms. Emmanuelle De Meyer by email to help prepare your application.
- Submitting the Application:
- Ensure all required documents are complete and in French.
- Send all documents in the same email to transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca.
- Reception of Acknowledgment:
- After submitting the application, the Ministry will send an acknowledgment of receipt to confirm that the application has been received.
- Eligibility Check:
- The Ministry will review the application to ensure it is complete and that both the applicant and the project meet the eligibility criteria. If the application is incomplete, it will be rejected. An eligibility confirmation will be sent for eligible applications.
- Project Analysis:
- A representative of the Ministry will analyze the application based on criteria such as relevance, feasibility, and financial performance of the project.
- Decision:
- You will receive a decision notice indicating whether the project is funded or not. If the project is approved, a financial aid agreement will be sent to you for signature.
- Request for Review (if rejected):
- If your application is rejected, you can request a review of the decision within 20 business days following the communication of the decision. Use the form available on the program's webpage for this purpose.
- Project Start:
- Once financial aid is granted and the agreement is signed, you can begin incurring eligible expenses for the project as established in the conditions.
Additional information
- Maximum rate of financial assistance: 50% of eligible expenses
- Increased financial assistance: 10% for projects meeting ministerial or government priorities In the case of equipment purchased from a supplier registered with the Quebec Business Register, the increase applies only to the eligible expense, not to all eligible expenses.
- Minimum amount of assistance granted: $7,500
- Maximum amount of assistance: $150,000 per establishment for the duration of the program.
- Type of contribution from applicant and partners: In cash
- Minimum private funding from applicant: 20% of eligible expenses
Contact information
The grant offered under the Food Transformation Program, VOLUME 3 — Food Quality and Safety Management, is a valuable initiative designed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) to support Quebec businesses in improving their food production processes. This financial aid aims to encourage the implementation and updating of food quality and safety management systems, as well as the necessary improvements to comply with specific government requirements that differ from those in the rest of Canada.
The program is structured to assist businesses in developing their markets and enhancing the safety of the products they offer to the public. By focusing on key sectors such as slaughterhouses and cheese factories, the program addresses a pressing need to upgrade existing practices to ensure food quality and safety, in line with international and national standards.
For eligible businesses, this program offers not only financial aid but also technical and organizational support to carry out projects that can vary from the implementation of an HACCP system (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point), the establishment of preventive control plans, to certification to standards recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This support is crucial as it helps structure companies' approaches around clearly defined projects and measurable quality objectives, benefiting both the companies themselves and the end consumers.
The application process for the grant is rigorous, requiring candidates to prepare their application thoroughly. It is essential that companies submit a complete application, including all required documents such as the previous year's financial statements verified by a certified professional accountant, a detailed financing plan, and the resumes of the involved experts. This rigor ensures that only serious and well-prepared companies are considered, thus guaranteeing efficient use of public funds.
The significance of such a grant also lies in its potential impact on the competitiveness of Quebec businesses in international markets. By aligning local practices with international food safety and quality standards, businesses can not only meet the requirements of overseas markets but also stand out due to the superior quality of their products. This strategic positioning can open new doors and create new growth and expansion opportunities.
Moreover, the program is designed to be inclusive and accessible. By offering support prior to the application submission, MAPAQ ensures that even companies less familiar with grant application procedures can access the necessary help to prepare their application. This support can be crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises that have fewer internal resources to manage such complex administrative processes.
The duration of the funded project is also an important aspect of the program. With a maximum project period of 36 months, companies have a sufficient time window to plan, execute, and report the results of their initiatives. This timeframe is intended to allow for careful and well-documented implementation of quality and safety management systems without undue pressure.
It's also worth noting that the amount of financial aid, which can cover up to 50% of eligible expenses, with a potential 10% enhancement for projects meeting certain ministerial or governmental priorities, makes this program particularly attractive. This financial generosity underscores the government's commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen food safety and economic competitiveness in Quebec.
In conclusion, the MAPAQ grant program for food quality and safety management is an excellent example of how government interventions can play a catalytic role in improving key industries. By providing both a financial framework and technical support, this program helps businesses enhance their processes and ensure the safety of their products, while fostering economic growth and innovation in Quebec's agri-food sector.
