Food Mail Program

Changes to Food Mail Program Effective October 3, 2010

What is it?

Commercial Air Stage Freight service is provided for items shipped to any one of the destinations designated under the Food Mail Program. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) provides funding to cover part of the cost of providing commercial air parcel service to approximately 140 isolated northern communities. As a result, you benefit immediately from the discounted rate, with no added administrative delay.

Food Mail Program Objectives

The principal objective of the Program is to reduce the cost of nutritious perishable food and other essential items, thereby improving nutrition, health and well-being in isolated communities that do not have year-round surface transportation.

Special Requirements

At the discretion of Canada Post, contract holders' facilities may be required to submit to inspections of their food supply/preparation facilities and to correct any practices or conditions identified as being below the industry standard or not meeting provincial or federal regulations.

At the discretion of Canada Post, food may be inspected on a random basis by qualified/certified food inspectors, at selected entry points. Any item(s) submitted for shipment and found to be not of sufficiently high quality or improperly packaged, in accordance with the Handling Guidelines, may be rejected at the discretion of Canada Post or with the recommendation of the quality inspector. There must be an expectation of a reasonable shelf life following receipt at the destination community.

Contract holders may be required to ensure that any staff associated with the preparation and/or shipment of food products under this agreement receive training with respect to proper handling of food products as well as personal hygiene to ensure proper awareness of the danger of poisoning and contaminating food products. Any person(s) who work directly or indirectly with these food shipments should also understand and be able to identify biological, chemical and physical contamination that can possibly occur during the course of their shipments preparation activities. Facilities used by Food Mail preparation should establish and follow an approved Sanitation Program as well as a Product Recall Program. The receiver must pick up food shipments at the destination community no later than fifteen (15) minutes following aircraft arrival. (Contracted air carriers are required to notify the destination receiver, via phone and/or fax of the scheduled/anticipated time of arrival).

The receiver must be capable of transporting the complete volume received in a single load or be capable of providing secure, temperature controlled storage and shelter from the elements. The mode of transportation from the airport for the received food products must provide protection from damage or spoilage.

Notices

Account Set-up

Prospective Food Mail shippers can initiate a Food Mail Commercial Account by contacting brian.stewart@canadapost.ca.

Please review the Food Mail Program information available on this web site prior to contacting us.

Program Administration

The Food Mail Program, managed by INAC, is administered by Canada Post according to the Agreement between Canada Post and INAC. INAC also consults with Health Canada on all aspects of this program relating to health and nutrition.

Service is provided using Canada Post's contracted transportation network. Canada Post's role is to provide Air Stage Freight service to all air stage destinations from specific Entry Points at least once a week, as defined within the Food Mail Program. As well, Canada Post ensures that all items shipped are eligible according to the rules established by INAC.

Training Modules

To help answer your questions about the Food Mail Program, please refer to the Training Modules for information on perishable products, packaging, storage systems, transport and distribution systems, sanitation and Canada Post inspection and verification.

Module 1: Overview of the Food Mail Program
Module 2: Perishable Products
Module 3: Packaging
Module 4: Storage Systems
Module 5: Transport and Distribution Systems
Module 6: Sanitation
Module 7: Canada Post Inspection and Verification

Contact Us

By Phone

Call our toll-free Customer Service number at 1-888-550-6333 for general inquiries and information.

For specific inquiries regarding your Invoice, Statement of Account or Credit Application, please call 1-800-267-7651.

Additional detailed Information

Please refer to the Food Mail Customer Guide
For information regarding the Food Mail Program, please contact:
FOOD MAIL PROGRAM
INDIAN AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS CANADA
OTTAWA ON K1A 0H4
TEL (819) 994-4810 / (819) 994-1909
FAX (819) 994-6769
E-MAIL foodmail@inac.gc.ca

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