Slaughter & Butchery
BC Food Safety
Food Safety, Licenses, Inspections, General
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/00_02028_01
Food Premises Regulation
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/loo82/loo82/11_210_99
Regional Health Authorities
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/health-authorities/regional-health-authorities
Processing Guidelines for Ready to Eat Meat Products - Interior Health
https://www.interiorhealth.ca/sites/default/files/PDFS/ready-to-eat-meat-processing-guidelines.pdf
BC CDC Regulations
Guideline for Cutting and Wrapping of Carcasses that are Not Government Inspected
BC CDC Temporary Food Market Guidelines
Food Premises and Food Safety Guidelines
Meat Inspection Regulations
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/349_2004
Slaughter and poultry processing industry operations are required to comply with the Code of Practice for the Slaughter and Poultry Processing Industries (Slaughter Code), the Environmental Management Act and the Waste Discharge Regulation. You can find more information here: Slaughter and poultry processing - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
Please note that cut and wrap facilities fall under the jurisdiction of the health authority, licensed via the Food Premises Regulation. For any queries related to requirements for such a facility, which could influence your grant application, contact your local environmental health officer.
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The BC Farm Practices Protection Act considers as part of a “farm operation” a farmer’s ability to process the products of that or another farm owned or operated by the same farmer. The ALC states, “The processing of farm products, if at least 50% of the farm product being stored, packed, prepared or processed is produced on the farm is permitted in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). These activities are designated as farm uses and may be regulated but must not be prohibited by local government.”
In 2003 the industry was impacted by the appearance of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or “mad cow disease”, which spreads through contact with specific tissues of infected animals (ex: skull, eyes and spine). To test for mad cow disease in humans, also known as the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), doctors do not have a particular test for it. They must determine where the individual has lived, the individual’s symptoms and a test such as an MRI to detect any brain alterations caused by vCJD.
Healthlink BC - Mad Cow Disease
In 2009, the then-Ministry of Agriculture commissioned a risk assessment of on-farm slaughter. SSMPA obtained a copy of this report through a Freedom of Information request fulfilled in 2021. The report conducts an exposure assessment and risk characterization and finds that, assuming small-scale slaughter is conducted in remote and isolated regions with access to potable water, some form of cooling system, pest control, cleaning and disinfection of tools, and personal hygiene, the risk rating of small-scale slaughter for the three primary foodborne illness-causing bacteria is actually lower than the risk rating for large-scale processing. This document purportedly influenced the decision to create the existing D and E license classes, although the report itself was never released publicly.
Based on feedback received through the 2018 Class D and E License Consultation conducted by the then-Ministry of Agriculture, in 2020 the Province changed oversight of Class D and E licenses to the now-Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (AFF), rather than regional health authorities, and developed a new “Slaughter Right” course to replace the previous “Slaughter Safe” course, with more instruction on humane kills and other slaughter-specific handling information. Further proposed changes are described below.
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Regional health authorities, under the administration of the Provincial Health Authority, regulate the handling of food products intended for human consumption. One must uphold a Class A license to slaughter at a slaughter establishment that has both a slaughter area and a food premises for meat product processing in the same building. To operate a rural slaughter establishment all animals and carcasses must be handled, slaughtered and stored in a sanitary manner, without running any risks of contamination. If water is used during the slaughter, only potable water may be used.
The same rules apply to the value-added processing of meat products, such as making sausage, meat pies or bone broth. Every operator on the food premise must obtain a slaughter establishment license under the Meat Inspection Regulation or from a source that is approved by the Government of Canada.
Products can be sold at every food premise except a bed and breakfast operated in a private residence, a food bank, a premise in which food is prepared or served by voluntary caterers, or a premises governed by the Milk Industry Act or the Fish Inspection Act.
Farmgate Licensing
Changes to meat inspection and licensing
On October 1, 2021, important changes to meat inspection and licensing in B.C. came into effect which created new licence categories, and to allow more modernized inspection approaches. Review the public announcement here.
All existing Class D and E slaughter establishment licences were transitioned to Farmgate and Farmgate Plus licences.
Regional health authorities continue to provide oversight of further processing and retail sales to the public.
About Farmgate and Farmgate Plus licencing
Farmgate and Farmgate Plus licensed facilities are available throughout the province:
These licences are intended to provide on-farm options for small producers who want to slaughter their own animals.
Custom slaughter at Farmgate Plus facilities is also available to provide flexibility for nearby producers, so long as the licence holder complies with production limits on their licence.
The ministry recommends that facilities for larger volumes of animals, or those that want to focus on custom slaughter should explore becoming fully inspected as a Licensed Abattoir.
Meat produced in Farmgate and Farmgate Plus facilities can only be sold within the province.
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Farmgate Licences are an entry-level licence intended for low volume producers interested in slaughtering their own animals on farm.
Allow annual production of up to 5 animal units (5,000 lbs or 2268 kg, live weight).
Available province-wide.
Farmgate licence holders can sell meat products at the farm, at farmers markets within their regional district, and at farmers markets within 50 km of their farm (including in another regional district).
Meat products are for end-user purchase and cannot be resold.
All meat processing, cut-and-wrap, and sales activities require a Food Premises Permit obtained from a regional health authority.
Regional health authorities oversee the issuance of Food Premises Permits under the Food Premises Regulation of the Food Safety Act.
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Most former Class D and E slaughter establishment licences have been transitioned to Farmgate Plus licences.
Farmgate Plus Licences are intended for small producers interested in slaughtering their own animals or providing limited custom slaughter for neighbouring producers.
Allow annual production of up to 25 animal units (25,000 lbs or 11,350 kg live weight).
Available province-wide.
Farmgate Plus licence holders can sell meat products direct to consumers, retail, restaurants, and at farmers markets province-wide.
All meat processing, cut-and-wrap, and sales activities require a Food Premises Permit obtained from a regional health authority.
Regional health authorities oversee the issuance of Food Premises Permits under the Food Premises Regulation of the Food Safety Act.
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For traceability purposes, meat products from Farmgate and Farmgate Plus facilities must be labelled with:
the name and address of the slaughter establishment;
a description of the contents of the package;
the net weight or volume of the contents of the package, and
Premises ID of the farm where the meat was slaughtered.
Farmgate product labels must also include “Not Government Inspected; For sale only in the regional district of [name of regional district in which the farmgate slaughter establishment is located], or at a temporary food market within 50 km of the slaughter establishment. Not for resale”.
Farmgate Plus product labels must also include “Not Government Inspected”.
Meat derived from animals other than those raised by the licence holder (custom slaughter) at a Farmgate Plus facility may be sold under the producer’s brand or farm name, provided the labelling requirements above are met.
For examples of Farmgate and Farmgate Plus labels, please see the Code of Practice for Farmgate and Farmgate Plus Establishments – Appendix 4 (PDF 522 KB)
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Slaughter Right Training Manual
Successful completion of SlaughterRight training is required for all new applications. Applicants must review the SlaughterRight webpage and download the SlaughterRight manual and workbook.
The SlaughterRight workbook, and the Food Safety Plan and Humane Slaughter Plan are required as part of the licence application package.
Slaughter Right Workbook
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1. Register for a Premises ID
2. Complete SlaughterRight Training
3. Review the Code of Practice for Farmgate and Farmgate Plus Licences (PDF 625 KB) to ensure your facility meets Ministry requirements.
4. Using the Farmgate and Farmgate Plus Application Package Checklist (PDF, 149 KB), ensure the required documents are included before submitting an application package:
Farmgate and Farmgate Plus Application Form and Feasibility Study (PDF, 278 KB)
Farmgate Plus applicants must consult with any licensed abattoirs within 100 km of their proposed facility, and with their municipality and regional district and report the results of these consultations in the Feasibility Study section of the application form (Pages 3 and 4). Failure to consult with abattoirs, municipalities and regional districts will delay the application process. Please include written confirmation that no slaughter-related zoning restrictions apply to the proposed facility, if available.
Confirmation from a PHO approved laboratory that water to be used during slaughter is potable.
Completed SlaughterRight workbook.
5. Contact FrontCounterBC to submit the application package.
6. A Meat Inspection Program staff member will contact applicants to review the SlaughterRight workbook and food safety plan, and to schedule a site assessment visit.
7. Following a successful site assessment, a slaughter licence may be issued.
Abattoir Licensing
The ministry’s Meat Inspection Program issues abattoir licences under the Meat Inspection Regulation of the BC Food Safety Act.
All pre-existing Class A and B slaughter establishment licences were transitioned to abattoir licences. Regional health authorities provide oversight of further processing and retail sales to the public. Learn more about applying for an abattoir licence below.
Provincially licensed abattoirs are found throughout the province. These establishments are permitted to slaughter and are required to have a Meat Hygiene Inspector present to inspect animals before and after slaughter. Meat produced in licensed abattoirs can only be sold within the province
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Here's the link to code_of_practice_licensed_abbatoirs.pdf (gov.bc.ca) This document sets out the requirements for a slaughter establishment (Establishment) to operate with an Abattoir Licence under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Meat Inspection Program (MIP). This Code of Practice is intended as a reference source for MIP staff and Establishment operators. It is not intended to stand alone, but rather to be used in conjunction with relevant legislation. The expectation is that the operator will use this guide appropriately during the planning, development, construction and use of licenced Establishments.
Code of Practice for Licensed Abattoirs
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It will be beneficial to review this checklist document: Checklist for Licensed Abattoir Establishment Plan Approval (gov.bc.ca) This checklist is a guide to review plans for Abattoirs submitted for approval under the BC Meat Inspection Regulation.
To support an abattoir licence application, ensure you have received zoning approval either from the ALR and Regional District/municipality.
There are 2 things that you will be responsible for prior to applying;
Ensure that your city or municipal district will approve a slaughter facility in your location
Reach out to the Ministry of Environment to research if there are any special considerations that need to be looked at as far as operating a slaughter facility on your property. They will also want to know your intentions for both liquid and solid waste disposal.
You will need to provide documentation that shows you have approval for both of these prior to moving forward with the application process.
Here is a link to the government website that provides some good information https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/food-safety/meat-inspection-licensing
Slaughter Trailers
Where to Purchase Slaughter Trailers/Cut and Wrap Modular Buildings
Chaparral Industries - https://www.chaparralbuilt.com/commercial-industrial/
Cool Corp Slaughter Trailers, Freezer and Cooler Trailers - https://cool-corp.com/
Mobile Cooler Rentals - www.coolertrailers.ca
Wild Structures - https://wildstructures.ca/
Waste Discharge Regulations
All producers and processors are subject to the Environmental Management Act and the Waste Discharge Regulation for the management of solid, “semi-solid” and liquid wastes, as administered by the BC Ministry of Environment.
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In the raising of livestock, these regulations apply to the handling of manure and mortalities. Storage/composting of manure, bedding and mortalities (and the subsequent application of the compost) are regulated by the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management and Code of Practice for Soil Amendments, particularly to prevent leachate from contaminating water. Requirements differ depending on whether the material is stored for less or more than 7 months.
In order to spread compost or manure on fields, producers must follow the requirements set by the above codes regarding the amount, timing, setbacks and records of the application. All producers on 5 acres or more land must take soil tests for each field for phosphorus and post-harvest nitrate levels at least every 3 years. Producers in high-risk areas (vulnerable aquifer recharge areas, phosphorus-affected areas, and areas with high rainfall) may be required to develop a nutrient management plan to prevent water contamination.
More info: Agricultural Environmental Management - Province of British Columbia
For slaughter operations, Ministry of Environment regulations apply to the disposal of waste such as feathers, hides, offal, bones, and wastewater containing blood, fats, etc. Small slaughter operators that process less than 11,000 lbs (rounded) live-weight of red meat or 3,300 lbs live-weight of poultry annually (for sale or for personal use) are subject to the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management. Slaughter facilities that process more than the above amounts annually are subject to the BC Code of Practice for the Slaughter and Poultry Processing Industries. Larger facilities processing over 66,000 lbs live-weight of red meat or 23,000 lbs live-weight of poultry annually are also subject to the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation.
More info: Slaughter and Poultry Processing - Province of British Columbia
In all cases, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has special restrictions that apply to the handling of Specified Risk Material from cattle and bison over 30 months of age, to prevent tissues that may contain Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy infectivity from entering the human food chain or animal feed chain.
More info: Guidance on Specified Risk Material - Canadian Food Inspection Agency
The ALC has additional regulations applicable to the handling of red meat waste in the ALR.
References:
Farm Inputs - 6.4 Storage & Disposal of Farm Wastes - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) Slaughter plants and handling red meat waste in the ALR - BC Agricultural Land Commission
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Waste Discharge Regulation - Last amended March 1 2023 https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/320_2004
Code Of Practice For The Slaughter And Poultry Processing Industries
2 (1)Subject to subsection (2), a person must register under section 4 of the Waste Discharge Regulation for the purposes of an exemption under that section in relation to this code, and must include, with the other information required under section 4 (2) of that regulation, the following information:
(a)the annual production, in tonnes of live weight killed per calendar year, of red meat and of poultry products by the person's facility;
(b)the maximum amount of wastewater discharged from the person's facility, in cubic metres per day;
(d)a list of the following information or plans that have been completed as required under this code:
(i)a nutrient management plan under section 8 (3) or 26;
(ii)a groundwater monitoring and assessment plan under section 10 (2) (d);
(iii)a vector control plan under section 12;
(iv)a landfill closure plan under section 14 (2) (b).
(2) A person engaged in the slaughter industry or the poultry processing industry is not required to register under section 4 of the Waste Discharge Regulation for the purposes of an exemption under that section in relation to this code if
(a)the products the person produces from either of those industries are for the person's personal use and not for sale, or
(b)the person
(i)carries out an agricultural operation, and
(ii)produces
(A)less than 5 tonnes of live weight killed red meat per year if engaged in the slaughter industry, or
(B)less than 1.5 tonnes of live weight killed poultry per year if engaged in the poultry processing industry.
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Environmental Management Act WASTE DISCHARGE REGULATION
Exemption from section 6 (2) and (3) of the Act by compliance with code of practice
4 (1)If
(a) a person introduces waste into the environment
(i)in the course of conducting an industry, trade or business, or an industry, trade or business in a class, listed in column 1 of the Table in Schedule 2, or
(ii)that is produced in the course of carrying on an activity or operation listed in column 1 of the Table in Schedule 2,
(b)the introduction of the waste is governed by a code of practice, the title of which is set out opposite the industry, trade, business, activity or operation, or class of industry, trade, business, activity or operation, in column 2 of the Table in Schedule 2,
(c)the introduction of the waste is carried out in accordance with the code of practice, and
(d)the person's registration under subsection (2), if required under the code of practice, is effective,
the person is, subject to section 4.1 (1) of this regulation, exempt from section 6 (2) and (3) of the Act in relation to the introduction of that waste into the environment.
(2)In order to effect a registration referred to in subsection (1) (d), the person must provide to a director the following information, as applicable, in a form approved by the director:
(a)if the person is an individual, the person's full name and residential address;
(b)if the person is a corporation or entity that is registered with the Registrar of Companies under an Act that provides for an address at or to which records may, under that Act, be served on the corporation or entity
(i)the registered name of the corporation or entity, and
(ii)that address;
(c)if the person is a corporation not referred to in paragraph (b),
(i)the name of the corporation, and
(ii)the address of the corporation's head office in British Columbia, or if the corporation does not have a head office in British Columbia, the address of the corporation's head office;
(d)if the person is a partnership, the name of the partnership, the full name of each partner, and the head office in British Columbia of the partnership;
(e)if the person is a corporation or entity operating under a name other than its registered name, the name under which the corporation or entity conducts or carries out the prescribed industry, trade, business, operation or activity;
(f)the name and address and contact numbers of an individual who is located at or near the site where the introduction of waste into the environment will occur and who is the local contact for the purposes of the discharge;
(g)the address and legal description of the location of the facility that produces the waste, and the address, legal description and latitude and longitude of the site where the introduction of waste into the environment will occur;
(h)the industry, trade, business, activity or operation, or class of industry, trade, business, activity or operation, in relation to which the waste is or will be introduced into the environment, as set out in column 1 of the table in Schedule 2;
(i)the title of the code of practice that governs the discharge of waste;
(j)if the person previously held an authorization under the Act to discharge waste or has previously registered under this regulation in relation to a code of practice, the ministry's file number for that authorization or registration;
(k)other information that is relevant to the exemption and specified by the minister as required for the purposes of a registration under the applicable code of practice;
(l)other information that is relevant to the exemption and specified by a director in a particular case.
(3)A registration under subsection (2) must
(a)be provided to a director by registered mail, transmitted electronically or delivered personally to a director, and
(b)be accompanied by
(i)the first annual charge calculated in accordance with section 9 (1), and
(ii)a written record of the charge calculation in a form approved by the director.
(4)For a person who is required under a code of practice to register for an exemption under this section, the exemption takes effect on the effective date of the registration which, in relation to a particular registration, is the earlier of the following dates:
(a)the date a director sends a notice in writing signed by the director stating that the person's registration is effective;
(b)the date that is 45 days after the date the person delivers the registration and charge under subsection (3) to a director.
(5)A person whose registration is effective under subsection (4) must
(a)pay the annual charge calculated under section 9 (1) on each anniversary of the effective date of the registration, and
(b)provide a director with written notice within 30 days after
(i)a change in information provided in the person's registration, or
(ii)ceasing to conduct the industry, trade or business or to carry on the activity or operation, at the facility referred to in subsection (2) (g).
(6)Despite subsection (4), a registration ceases to be effective
(a)on the day following an anniversary referred to in subsection (5) (a) if the annual charge was not paid in accordance with that subsection, or
(b)30 days after a change referred to in subsection (5) (b) if notice was not provided in accordance with that subsection.
(7)The minister, in a code of practice, may specify in relation to an industry, trade, business, activity or operation, or a class of industry, trade, business, activity or operation, whether registration is required for an exemption under this section.
(8)For greater certainty, if
(a)the discharge of waste from an activity or operation of an industry, trade or business described in subsection (1) (a) is not governed by the code of practice set out opposite the title of the industry, trade or business in the Table in Schedule 2, and
(b)the activity or operation is listed in the Table in Schedule 1 or in column 1 of the Table in Schedule 2, registration under this section in relation to the code of practice described in paragraph (a) does not exempt the person conducting the industry, trade or business from section 6 (2) or (3) of the Act in relation to the discharge described in that paragraph.
Schedule 2
Industries, trades, businesses, operations and activities defined
1 (1)In this Schedule:
"agricultural operation" has the same meaning as in the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management;
"poultry" includes domesticated chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, ratites, squab and pheasants;
"poultry processing industry" means establishments that are engaged in processing poultry for human consumption, but does not include establishments included in the definition of "meat by-product processing industry" in section 2 of Schedule 1;
"red-meat animals" include cattle, swine, sheep, fallow deer, farmed game and farmed bison;
"slaughter industry" means establishments engaged in processing red-meat animals for human consumption, but does not include establishments included in the definition of "meat by-product processing industry" in section 2 of Schedule 1;
"soil enhancement using wastes" means activities and operations applying organic or inorganic wastes to land as a soil conditioner or ground cover;
Row - Industries, Trades, Businesses, Operations and Activities - Code of Practice
1 - Agricultural Operations - Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management
20 - Poultry Processing Industry - Code of Practice for the Slaughter and Poultry Processing Industries
22 - Slaughter Industry - Code of Practice for the Slaughter and Poultry Processing Industries
23 - Soil Enhancement Using Wastes - Code of Practice for Soil Amendments
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Exemption from Slaughter Code of Practice is either - for personal use, not for sale, or up to 5 tonnes live weight red meat or 1.5 tonnes live weight poultry. 1 animal unit is 454 kg. So this exemption is for up to 3.3 AU of poultry or 11 AU red meat. The new suggested ‘Farmgate’ is 5 AU, and the 'Farmgate Plus' will remain 25 AU. So people will need to contend with the CoP unless they stay under those numbers.
From Factsheet - "5 tonnes (5,000 kgs.), is approximately 8 cows, 179 goats, 91 sheep, or 50 hogs. 1.5 tonnes (1,500 kgs.), is approximately 708 chickens or 136 turkeys."
So their estimate for folks to use if they don't have real weight is:
cow = 625 kg / 1378 lb
goat = 28 kg / 62 lb
sheep = 55 kg / 121 lb
hog = 100 kg / 220 lb
chicken = 2.12 kg / 4.67 lb
turkey = 11 kg / 24.25 lb