British Columbia’s new Fish and Seafood Act and associated regulations are more responsive to the modern-day business environment for the B.C. seafood sector and reduces red tape, while supporting sustainability, Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick announced today.

The act and the new fish and seafood licensing regulation will be brought into force on Jan. 1, 2017, repealing the aquaculture regulation, the Fisheries Act regulation and the fish inspection regulation, while eliminating 491 regulatory counts. The Ministry of Agriculture worked with First Nations, the seafood sector and related stakeholders in developing the regulation. A 2015 consultation invited comments on the proposed regulatory changes and it was followed up by a targeted consultation with First Nations and key industry stakeholders. There will be no increase to licence fees and some licences have been repealed in an effort to streamline the process.

In addition to reducing unnecessary red tape, food safety will be strengthened under the new regulation. Licence holders must comply with a food safety regulatory model that is outcome based. It will provide them with more flexibility in designing and implementing processes that work for their type and size of business to keep seafood safe and free of contamination. Seafood processors will be required to have a written food-safety plan that identifies all critical control points and ensures the plan is supported by appropriate food-safety measures.

To ease the transition, the B.C. government has provided $100,000 for the development and implementation of food-safety plans, including one-on-one support. More than 150 individuals have attended in-class training sessions with food-safety specialists throughout the province. 

The Fish and Seafood Act also includes a new enforcement regulation that updates and modernizes the processes and procedures used by inspectors, such as enabling electronic issuance of orders. Amendments have also been made to the violation ticket administration and fines regulation, increasing maximum fines to $403 from $115 and $173.

B.C. seafood is enjoyed locally and worldwide as high-quality and trusted products. The new regulation and licensing requirements will help ensure food safety for British Columbians, and builds on the seafood component of a record $3.5 billion in agrifood exports set in 2015.

The B.C. government is a national leader in red-tape reduction. To build on this commitment, the Province held a six-week public engagement in 2015 and asked British Columbians for their ideas on how to reduce red tape. The Province listened and is taking more than 150 actions to improve access to government services. Plus, British Columbians now have a direct way to share their ideas on cutting red tape all year round through the new suggestion button on the Province’s homepage.

Quotes:

Norm Letnick, Minister of Agriculture –

“These new regulations will reduce red tape and strengthen the seafood sector’s licensing, food safety and record-keeping requirements. These improvements will help build B.C.’s local and international reputation as a source of sustainable and trusted seafood products.”

Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction –

“Updating rules and regulations to bring them in line with modern industry is a key part of red-tape reduction. Revising the fish and seafood licensing regulation will make it easier for small businesses in B.C.’s seafood sector to grow, create jobs and strengthen the provincial economy.”

Christina Burridge, executive director, BC Seafood Alliance –

“The BC Seafood Alliance supports the streamlining of regulations, while ensuring a more comprehensive approach to food safety. Consumers should rest assured that whether they buy on the dock, at retail or in restaurants, their seafood meets the same standards.”

Chris Sporer, executive director, Seafood Producers Association of British Columbia –

"British Columbia's wild seafood industry provides food for Canada and the world and jobs and incomes for British Columbians. Our members support initiatives that help us build on our reputation for food safety, while reducing unnecessarily high administrative costs."

Jeremy Dunn, executive director, BC Salmon Farmers Association –

“The Fish and Seafood Act is a big step forward to provide a modern regulatory framework for a world-class seafood sector providing healthy, safe and traceable food to British Columbians and markets around the world.”
 

Quick Facts:

• British Columbian seafood producers harvest 254,000 tonnes of fish, shellfish and marine plants each year.
• The top seafood commodities in terms of sales in B.C. in 2015 were farm-raised salmon, crabs, halibut, prawns, geoduck, sablefish, rockfish, wild chum salmon and herring.
• British Columbia exported about $1.1 billion of seafood in 2015 to 79 markets, an increase of 15% in value from 2014.
• The top five export markets for B.C. seafood in 2015 were the United States, China, Japan, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Learn More:

March 2015 news release with details on Fish and Seafood Act: https://news.gov.bc.ca/stories/modern-fish-and-seafood-act-represents-sustainable-bc-sector

Learn more about how the B.C. government is reducing red tape for British Columbians: gov.bc.ca/helpcutredtape