WHEREAS the Government of British Columbia has enacted a new Meat Inspection Regulation as of September 30, 2007 stating that anyone who slaughters animals to produce meat for human consumption must have either a Provincial or Federal Licence, which has made it increasingly difficult for small farmers to maintain their herd or flocks; AND WHEREAS in response to the growing trend to embrace the One Hundred Mile Diet throughout all parts of British Columbia for environmental, health and business purposes, there is an immediate need to accommodate the needs of small farms and ranches with regionalized food processing facilities and abattoirs: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia be called upon to: a amend the Meat Inspection Regulations to actively encourage regional abattoirs throughout British Columbia; b address the need for regionalized Specified Risk Material SRM plants in British Columbia; c support the One Hundred Mile Diet throughout the Province of BC with marketing programs designed to encourage this important trend; d encourage farmers and ranchers to produce and process food in British Columbia for British Columbians; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UBCM explore with the Province a mechanism for exemptions to the Meat Inspection Regulations for isolated communities such as those with water access only.
Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Amend the Meat Inspection Regulation to actively encourage regional abattoirs throughout British Columbia The Province is actively encouraging the development of regional meat processing abattoirs through the province-wide application of the Meat Inspection Regulation. All abattoirs are now required to be licensed and to move towards meeting the construction, operating and inspection standards. When they meet those standards, abattoir operators can sell their product anywhere in the province, creating additional business opportunities and increasing their viability. The Meat Inspection Regulation is outcome-based to allow flexibility in how the standards are met, enabling abattoirs of all sizes to become licensed and inspected; e.g., one small poultry abattoir on Vancouver Island operates only twice a year. Class C transitional licenses have been available to meat producers working toward becoming fully licensed, with submission of a construction plan. The license allows meat producers to continue offering limited, direct sales such as farm gate sales to consumers. Meats produced under a Class C license are not inspected, cannot be resold or used in any commercial operation such as a restaurant, and must be labelled as uninspected. The Province has provided 8.8 million for the Meat Transition Assistance Program to assist meat processors across BC to meet the construction and operating standards and become fully licensed. Phase 2 of this program is particularly directed towards developing licensed slaughter capacity in underserved areas of the province. Address the need for regionalized Specified Risk Material SRM plants in British Columbia The Province recognizes the need for regionalized solutions for Specified Risk Materials SRM and is currently working with industry and local governments on a number of options that include, but are not limited to composting, land fill, incineration and gasification. Funding is currently available to local governments to evaluate various options and to implement appropriate regional solutions. In parallel to the process above, the province is working with an application driven process where SRM producers andor other private ventures can propose regional solutions for appropriate SRM management. Funding decisions are contingent on environmental impact assessments, compliance with existing regulations and by-laws as well as economic feasibility. The province would also like UBCM assistance to help locate appropriate sites for regional solutions and to possibly assist in the public engagement process that is required prior to a solution and site being approved. Support the One Hundred Mile Diet throughout the Province of BC with marketing programs designed to encourage this important trend The Province is actively supporting the trend towards a BC Diet through two Programs announced in the 2008 BC Agriculture Plan. Under the Branding Program, BC products will be identified to consumers under a unified BC Brand. Encourage farmers and ranchers to produce and process food in British Columbia for British Columbians As part of its recently released B.C. Agriculture Plan: Growing a Healthy Future for BC Families, the Province has made support for farmers markets a priority because the markets provide an opportunity to buy local and promote a sustainable agriculture industry. On August 23, 2008 219,000 was provided to the BC Association of Farmers Markets BCAFM through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadas Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food ACAAF program, which is delivered in BC through the Investment Agriculture Foundation IAF of BC. Farmers markets in BC contribute significantly to farm incomes and to the economy of communities in which it operates. A 2006 study by the University of Northern British Columbia found that BC farmers markets contributed 118.5 million annually to the provincial economy, with 65.3 million per year spent at the markets and another 53.2 million at neighbouring businesses In March 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands invested 36K towards a 2010 Opportunities Pavilion at Grocery Showcase West in order to stimulate relationships between BC food processors and retailers and showcase products processed from fruits, vegetables and animals raised on BC farms and ranches. The project continues with the ongoing delivery of 2010 opportunity workshops throughout the province designed to promote BC agri-food products. Industrys proposed Agri-food and Bioproducts Innovation Centre, also a priority within the BC Agriculture Plan, will assist with the development and commercialization of new food products for British Columbians made from the harvests of BCs farms and ranches.