Federal

A process authority for canned low-acid foods

A low-acid food (pH above 4.6 and pH and water activityTwo lab measurements that show whether a food keeps safely at room temperature. pH measures acidity (4.6 or below is acidic enough); water activity measures water available to bacteria (0.85 or below is dry enough).All terms in the glossary above 0.85) sealed in a jar, can or pouch and sold at room temperature must be commercially sterile, unless it is labelled and kept “Keep Refrigerated” or “Keep Frozen”. The heat process that gets it there must be set by someone expert in thermal processing — CFIA’s example is a process authority — and to sell it at a BC market, the guideline in force requires the process to be reviewed and accepted by a qualified process authority. Every container needs a code naming where and when it was sterilised. BCCDC points to the Association of Food and Drug Officials’ directory; there is no BC list.

Who issues it
A thermal-processing expert (process authority)

Do you need it?

You need it if

  • You sell a low-acid food — pH above 4.6 and water activity above 0.85 — sealed in a jar, can or pouch and kept at room temperature.

You don’t need it if

  • It is labelled and kept “Keep Refrigerated” or “Keep Frozen”.
Where this comes from

Sources

How to get it

  1. 1

    Find a process authority

    BCCDC points to the Association of Food and Drug Officials’ directory, which lists Canadian process authorities; there is no BC list.

  2. 2

    Have your heat process set or reviewed

    The process authority sets the time and temperature that make your product commercially sterile; to sell at a BC market, the guideline in force requires the process to be reviewed and accepted by one.

Where this comes from

Sources

Once you have it

  • Code every container with where and when it was sterilised, so a batch can be traced.
Where this comes from

Sources

Which businesses need it

Packaged food makersFor low-acid foods in sealed containers

The rules behind this page

Last checked 9 October 2026. We check this guide regularly against Island Health, provincial and municipal sources, but regulations and laws change often and we can’t guarantee it is complete or current. Confirm with Island Health and your municipality before you apply, build or sell.

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