We are pleased to introduce the British Columbia Food Protection Association (BCFPA), an affiliate of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). IAFP has over 3000 members in 50 nations. BCFPA is an association with a diverse membership from industry, government, academia, equipment manufacturers and other allied supplier and service companies. Our members are engaged in quality control, food production and processing, regulatory and private contract inspections, consulting, risk assessment, research and development, microbiological research, manufacturing plant management and operations, technical services and HACCP. They supply products and services dedicated to education, research and development of food safety.

BCFPA was created in 1999 as a nonprofit association to promote food safety and to encourage the exchange of information in British Columbia. They received their charter at the 86th Annual Meeting in Dearborn, Michigan in the same year that International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians (IAMFES) voted to change their name to the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). The BCFPA is the only food safety association in BC that represents the entire food industry. We are dedicated to service of our members, industry and the community. Your membership in the BCFPA strengthens the association and assists in our distribution of food safety information to the food industry, related businesses and consumers.

In our first few years the BCFPA used a colorful logo that featured a graphic of a farm scene, a table set with various foods and the expression, "serving the best from gate to plate." As the Executive considered ways to broaden our audience and our membership base, it was decided that the slogan may unintentionally appear to limit our area of interest to agriculture based food commodities. This is certainly not the case as the association would like to attract members from the producer level of all food commodities as well as from all the related levels of processing, distribution, handling and preparation through to the consumer level.

In 2003, the BCFPA adopted a new Mission statement and a new logo. The current logo features the official flower of the province of British Columbia within the rings of the logo of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). The logo was designed to reflect our roots in the province of British Columbia and our affiliation with our parent organization. We have adopted the blue and green of the logo as the feature colors for our website to further reflect our close alignment with IAFP. The BC Food Protection Association would like to express thanks to Braden Hill of Ascension Enterprises for his assistance in the design of our new logo.

Members join the Association to keep up-to-date on rapidly changing technologies, innovations and regulations; to learn of the latest findings in research; and to establish and maintain contacts outside of their individual areas of expertise. The Association provides this information network through its meetings, newsletter and website, as well as interaction with other food safety professionals and the IAFP.

The BCFPA is active in educating and informing members about important issues impacting the food industry. We host local food safety speaker's evenings for our members, the industry and interested public. Educational sessions are dedicated to the timely coverage of key issues or hot topics that cater to a broad mix of attendees. Quality Assurance, HACCP, Sanitation, Food Safety Education, Bio-terrorism, Food Processing, Risk Assessment, Food Formulation, Microbiological Concerns, Foodborne illness, and Epidemiology are just some of the more recent topics presented at the meetings. We continue to represent the industry where possible, support scientific research and offer opportunities to students enrolled in studies related to food safety.

The BCFPA currently has 80 regular members, 14 student members, 2 retired members, 3 special members and 25 sustaining members for a total of 124 members. Our sustaining members have the interests of their industry and consumers at heart. Each is pledged to the highest standards of hygiene and quality control and to always provide nutritious and healthy products. All BCFPA members are eligible to participate by attending Board Meetings, joining a BCFPA committee or taking an available seat on the Executive Board.

Membership in the BC Food Protection Association can put you in charge of your career. From quick access to cutting edge technical and scientific information to contact with a diverse membership network all with food safety as a prime interest, becoming a member is your link to the food safety industry and a clearinghouse of resources. It increases your knowledge and offers ideas that you can implement in your work environment.