As Canada enters its fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, meat processors continue to struggle with virus transmission among employees. Reported custom order cancellations and lower staff numbers exacerbate the ongoing capacity crunch small-scale producers face. While no new outbreaks have been declared at Lower Mainland abattoirs or meat-packing facilities since an outbreak at the …
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Provincial meat licensing overhaul effective October
MERRITT – The province has formally announced details of the new three-tier licensing structure for meat processors promised earlier this year. The four existing classes of licences will be streamlined, with on-farm slaughter allowed across the province. Provincially inspected A and B licensees will be consolidated in a new Abattoir class, with no restrictions on …
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 …
New executive director for Small-Scale Meat Producers
Three years after its formation, the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association has hired an executive director to coordinate advocacy on behalf of members. Ava Reeve, a veteran of small-scale agricultural organizations, has been hired for the role with the assistance of funding from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Reeve also serves as executive director with …
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 …