Vernon MLA says new meat licensing system will benefit farmers and consumers

Jul 21, 2021 | 6:00 AM

The B.C. government says a new meat licensing system will make it easier for families to buy and enjoy locally raised beef, pork, and poultry.

Vernon-Monashee NDP MLA Harwinder Sandhu said the new system will benefit farmers in rural areas by increasing opportunities for them to sell meat products in their home communities and in turn, support local economies and regional food security.

“Farmers in the North Okanagan work hard to bring us nutritious, delicious local food,” Sandhu said. “I personally love shopping at the Vernon Farmers’ Market, and with these changes we will all be able to enjoy even more of what these farmers have to offer.”

The new licensing system has three new categories:

A farmgate license that allows farmers to sell from their farmgate or at farmers markets within their regional district and at farmers markets within a 50 kilometre radius of their farm if they border a different regional district;
A farmgate plus license that replaces current Class D and E licenses. It is available provincewide and helps alleviate ranchers’ and producers’ concerns about accessing processing services, as well as provide new sales opportunities at farmers markets, retail shops and restaurants;
An abattoir license that replaces current Class A and B licenses. It is synchronized with existing business and license procedures and will continue to offer fully inspected meat production with no restriction on volume or sales within B.C.

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All licences will be valid for a five-year term and will be effective Oct. 1, 2021, with existing licensees transitioning automatically.

Sandhu said the new licence framework came after consultation with ranchers, abattoir operators, local governments and meat producer organizations as well as conversations between her and Premier John Horgan.

by Pete McIntyre

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