What Makes a Warehouse Food-Grade? A Look at HACCP, SQF, and CFIA Standards

If you're in the food or beverage industry, storing your products in a standard warehouse isn’t enough. Canadian regulations require food products to be handled, stored, and shipped under strict conditions to prevent contamination, spoilage, and safety risks.

That’s where food-grade warehousing comes in. But what does it actually mean for a warehouse to be food-grade?

The Foundation: HACCP Principles

HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. It’s a globally recognized system for identifying, monitoring, and controlling potential hazards in food storage and handling.

In a HACCP-compliant warehouse, every step of the process is examined for possible risks, from how products are received and stored to how they’re packed and shipped.

Key elements include:

Temperature monitoring for perishable goods

Sanitation controls to avoid cross-contamination

Pest prevention and facility maintenance protocols

Detailed record-keeping and traceability

If your 3PL partner follows HACCP guidelines, you can be confident that your product is stored with food safety as the top priority.

Going Further: SQF Certification

SQF, or Safe Quality Food, is a certification program recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative.

It goes beyond HACCP by incorporating more rigorous auditing and accountability standards. SQF certification means a facility has passed third-party inspections and follows strict procedures for everything from hygiene to employee training.

For businesses selling to large grocery chains or exporting food products, working with an SQF-certified warehouse is often required. It sends a clear signal that your supply chain is built on safety, consistency, and quality assurance.

Meeting Canadian Regulations: CFIA Compliance

In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces national food safety standards.

While CFIA doesn’t issue specific warehouse certifications, it does regulate food handling, labeling, and traceability. Any warehouse dealing with food must comply with CFIA requirements, or risk fines, shipment holds, or product recalls.

Why It Matters for Your Business

Choosing a food-grade warehouse is more than ticking boxes. It’s about protecting your customers, your brand, and your bottom line. With a HACCP-based system, SQF certification, and CFIA compliance, your products stay safe, your operations stay efficient, and your business stays trusted.

At Freight Xperts, we make food-grade logistics simple, reliable, and fully compliant. If your products demand the highest safety standards, let’s talk about how we can help.

Freight Xperts specializes in Vancouver 3PL warehouse services and trucking across North America. We specialize in Vancouver 3PL Warehousing services, full truckload and less than truckload services including dry van, temperature controlled, and flatbed, plus cross-border shipping.

Our goal is to provide the highest level of service in the most cost-effective manner possible for the warehousing and trucking of your products ranging from single pallets to full truck loads.