SWP Attains ISO 9001:2000 Registration

TORONTO - Mar 31/05 - SNS -- The Saskatchewan Wheat Pool's (SWP) quality and food safety management systems have attained ISO 9001:2000 quality management standard registration and conformity to the ISO/DIS 22000 food safety standards.

This registration covers all Pool and AgPro grain handling facilities in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba as well as the port terminals in Vancouver and Thunder Bay. The quality management and food safety standards are developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

These latest registrations are in addition to those previously obtained for the Saskatoon Seed Quality Lab and the Quality Control Lab in Regina. In addition, the Pool's special crops facilities at Moose Jaw, Humboldt and Rowatt have been registered to ISO standards since 2000. The special crops facilities have since been recognized as also conforming to ISO/DIS 22000 in late 2004.

The ISO/DIS 22000 designation recognizes HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) food safety standards. The HACCP system is an accepted format that uses food safety protocols to identify potential safety concerns and any required critical control points throughout the processing and shipping cycle to ensure the integrity of its processes and thus the product.