Consumer safety is paramount to British Columbia’s meat inspection system. British Columbians can be confident that their provincial meat inspection system supports the highest standards of food safety.

• Meat slaughtered within Class A and B provincially licensed facilities can be sold only within the province. B.C. abattoirs that export their meat to other provinces or countries require a federal licence. Details are available online: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/meat-and-poultry-products/registered-establishments/eng/1374560511959/1374560512678
• There are currently 61 Class A and B provincial slaughter establishments throughout the province, up from 60 in 2014.
• An overview of meat inspection and licensing in B.C., including a list and map of provincially licensed abattoirs, is available online: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/food-safety/meat-inspection-licensing
• All Class A and B provincially licensed abattoirs have a trained government meat-hygiene and agri-food inspector onsite during the slaughtering process, to ensure food safety requirements are being met.
• The Ministry of Agriculture has about 50 employees who conduct inspection duties at provincially licensed Class A and B abattoirs in B.C.
• Ministry of Agriculture staff provide information, and work with applicants, to support them in meeting the health and safety requirements in the abattoir-licensing process.
• In March 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture consulted with small abattoirs, and other stakeholders, for feedback and suggestions on how to improve rural abattoir licensing in B.C.
• The consultation was part of a review of the province’s rural slaughter capacity, which the ministry led, to support B.C. ranchers and livestock producers in rural communities.
• Input was gathered from current and former Class D and E licence holders, as well as applicants who were denied and those who were approved, but chose not to complete the licensing process. Key stakeholders in the consultation included the BC Association of Abattoirs, BC Cattlemen’s Association, the Small Scale Meat Producers Association and the BC Sheep Federation, as well as regional health authorities.
• From May 16, 2018, to June 15, 2018, the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fish and Food conducted public consultations on local meat production and inspection, based on the April 2018 discussion paper released by the Minister of Agriculture.  The committee invited input from farmers, producers, processors, consumers and restaurateurs, in addition to all other individuals and organizations interested in local, small-scale meat production.
• A summary of the consultation has been provided to the committee. The committee will make recommendations concerning local meat production in B.C. to the legislative assembly by Oct. 1, 2018.