WHEREAS implementation of the Government of BCs Meat Inspection Regulations has had and continues to have adverse impacts on: - local meat production and sales, which imposes economic hardship on small scale processors and producers and their rural communities; and - the ability to meet the demand for locally produced and processed foods in keeping with the principles of sustainability; AND WHEREAS not withstanding best efforts through provincial initiatives such as: - the Meat Transition Assistance Program; - implementation of a transitional Class C License; and - providing information, education and clarification to industry on the intent of and implementation steps being used in applying the regulations; AND WHEREAS under the current regulatory framework, the costs and practicality of developing local meat slaughtering capacity are not feasibly meeting local needs: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province be requested to augment the current regulatory framework by implementing a permanent license, similar to the current C license, to permit a lower cost, self contained mobile slaughtering operation to support the continuation of uninspected farm gate sales.
Ministry of Healthy Living Sport Fully licensed and inspected Class A and B slaughter plants of all sizes are now located in communities across BC, including 1 red meat and 1 poultry mobile plant. Three more poultry mobiles currently have Class C licenses, two of which are located in the central Okanagan. Inspection costs are already fully paid by the Province, at least until 2012. Virtually all provincially licensed plants serve the direct farm gate sales sector and there is significant and growing slaughter capacity in the central Okanagan region. It would be unfair to the fully licensed and inspected operators to create a permanent class of lower cost, unregulated and uninspected slaughter licenses that would undercut the already slim profit margins of the fully licensed operators. It would also be unfair to consumers, who expect that Government will provide food safety oversight to ensure the safety of their meat supply. In April 2009, the Province committed to phasing out Class C licenses, though a final end date has not been announced. The Province also announced a further 3 million in funding to help operators make the transition to full licensing and inspection, for a total of 11.8 million. In the remote and isolated communities of Powell River, Bella Coola and the Queen Charlotte Islands, where meat production levels are low and distances to a licensed abattoir long, the province is holding consultations with small-scale producers to help them develop solutions for their communities. A report on these consultations is expected by the end of the year.