The rollout of the province’s new meat licensing regime October 1 will also mean stepped-up inspections of on-farm abattoirs. In addition to an annual inspection by the province, Farmgate Plus licensees (formerly Class D and E abattoirs) that slaughter cattle will also undergo inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The inspections aim to preserve …
abattoir
BC abattoir volume up 30% in 2020
FALKLAND – The impact of COVID-19 on the BC meat sector was a key theme during the annual meeting of the BC Association of Abattoirs on May 15. “Unprecedented” was how president Bonnie Windsor described the impact in her address. “Facing the increased demand proved challenging, but for the most part I think it was …
Province reveals abattoir changes
A newer, simpler licensing system is on the horizon for BC abattoirs. During a meeting with the Small-Scale Livestock Producers Association on March 25, the province revealed that provincially inspected abattoirs (currently holding Class A and B licences) will be consolidated within a single licence class. On-farm slaughter will be allowed across the province, unlike …
SlaughterRight training launched by ag ministry
VICTORIA – SlaughterRight is the province’s new, mandatory training program for on-farm meat plants following consolidation of meat inspection within the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. The agriculture ministry took over inspection of D and E class facilities December 1. Regional health authorities previously oversaw training and inspection. “[The ministry] is now implementing …
Rural recovery funds agriculture
Grants issued this week from the province’s rural economic recovery program will fund a number of agriculture-related projects. The BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development announced $20 million in funding for 38 projects. Of these, four with a value of $1.9 million will support farming and farm-related activities. The smallest …
Meat producers frustrated by consultations
MERRITT – BC meat producers are frustrated that the province is spending more time studying how to help them than getting on with acting on its findings. The BC Ministry of Agriculture released an intentions paper September 14 aimed at modernizing rural slaughter practices, but Julia Smith of the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association says the …