Support program for the development of reserved designations and valuable terms — Component 1 Development support

• The applicant must be an association or group of enterprises from the biofood sector, a legally constituted non-profit entity under Quebec or Canadian law (NPO, cooperative, or incorporated association), or an Indigenous community or nation recognized by the National Assembly of Quebec, mandated to represent an association or group of enterprises.
• The project must focus on the development of reserved designations or value-adding terms, such as preparing analytical or governance documents for review by the Conseil des appellations réservées et des termes valorisants (CARTV).
• The applicant must submit mandatory documents, including a completed application form, a comprehensive project description with forecasts and timelines, financial statements for the last two years (unless an exemption is granted), and a list of participating member companies.

Who is eligible?

• Associations or groups of enterprises from the biofood sector
• Non-profit organizations (NPOs) legally established under Quebec or Canadian law, including cooperatives or incorporated associations
• Unincorporated associations mandated to represent an association or group of enterprises
• Recognized Indigenous communities or nations mandated to represent an association or group of enterprises
• Individually owned businesses or corporations established under Quebec or Canadian law, including general partnerships (SENC), limited partnerships (SEC), and undeclared partnerships (SEP)

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their status or main activities. It aims to ensure that funds support projects that comply with specific restrictions and align with the program's objectives.

• Companies on the list of non-compliant businesses with the language requirements of the Office québécois de la langue française.
• Entities listed in the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA).
• Organizations that have previously failed to meet obligations related to prior financial aid from MAPAQ.
• Companies under the protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
• Organizations under any order related to the Animal Welfare and Safety Act.
• Projects related to non-food-related products or services.
• Projects connected to recreational cannabis products or those not approved by Health Canada.
• Activities related to additional cannabis products, such as processed or topical items.

Eligible expenses

• Costs related to preparing analysis and governance documents required for project review.
• Expenses for producing specifications (cahier des charges) and control plans for recognition purposes.
• Fees for conducting opportunity or complementary studies to address specific issues linked to the recognition process.
• Expenditures related to marketing or commercialization plans, promotion campaigns, or organizing conferences and training sessions.
• Costs for updating specifications and control plans.
• Expenses associated with the certification process of a product under a reserved designation or promotional term.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria with empirical assessment to ensure alignment with the grant's objectives.

• The potential of the project to contribute to the development of a reserved designation or a valorizing term.
• The representativeness of the applicant in relation to their sector.
• The realism of the financial model including viable partners.
• The adequacy of the financial health of the association or group in ensuring project viability.
• The realism and completeness of the proposed schedule.
• The applicant’s capacity and expertise for project execution, including technical, organizational, and administrative abilities.
• The consultant's necessary expertise for project realization.
• The project's compliance with the Reserved Designations Regulation as related to the project.

• The program accepts continuous applications until March 1, 2026, or until available credits are fully allocated, whichever occurs first.
• The last update to the program guidelines was on October 1, 2024; applicants are encouraged to consult the most recent documents.
• Organizations unable to provide financial statements for the last two years may request an exemption if they demonstrate the impossibility of producing them at the time of project submission.