Background

The LFP certification mark is the central tool for identifying LFP certified product. The mark indicates that the product has been produced, processed, and distributed in one province or region for consumption in that province or region. LFP certified farmers, processors and food companies who have signed a license agreement with LFP are entitled to use the mark in the province or region where they are located.

Given the current global nature of our food system, LFP recognizes that LFP certified product may "leak" out of the province or region in which certification was granted. Many farmers, processors, and food companies, though committed to expanding local markets, sell significant volumes of product through third party brokers and distributors (most of whom sell in many provinces) in order to maintain the viability of their operations. In so doing, they lose control over the movement of their goods.

LFP builds new local supply chain relationships. As local markets expand, many farmers, processors and food companies hope to access these supply chains in order to avoid supply relationships that may divert product out of province or region. With LFP currently operating only in Ontario, no other region of the country can yet use a regional or provincial LFP certification mark. However, as the LFP programme expands, processors with multiple plants will be able to source product from local producers in the region of sale rather than from out of province suppliers, further supporting the development of local supply chains.

Requiring farmers, processors and food companies to develop and affix separate labels for products that will be sold both farm direct and through brokers and distributors creates significant logistical difficulties, including separate label runs, distinct warehousing, more complex inventory control and transport segregation. Such challenges may make participation in the LFP programme unfeasible, reduce the number of participants, and ultimately hinder the development of local sustainable food systems.

The Policy

An LFP provincial or regional certification mark is not valid outside the region or province of issue. LFP certified producers, processors and food companies in one province or region produce food for consumption in the same province or region in which they are certified. For example, LFP certifies Ontario producers for Ontario sales, BC producers for BC sales, Quebec producers for Quebec sales, PEI producers for Atlantic Canada sales etc. LFP does not endorse out-of-province or region sales, but the nature of our current food system is such that neither LFP nor LFP certified producers (especially processed products) can always control where all certified product is shipped.

The LFP License Agreement does not currently forbid sales of LFP certified product outside of the province or region for which the certification was given, but does state that no LFP Point of Sale (POS) material can be used and no claims related to LFP certification can be made to promote LFP certified product outside of the province or region for which it is certified. Licensees using said POS material in violation of the licensing agreement will have their certification revoked. The brand guidelines for licensees will provide further details on the appropriate use of the LFP certification mark.