Local meat producers invited to information session
By Boundary Sentinel
When the Ministry for Healthy Living and Sport announced new licencing to allow farm gate sales without inspections in June after essentially banning the same in 2007, many meat producers have contacted Grand Forks and Boundary Regional Agricultural Society (GFBRAS) for information about the new licence – class E.
Meat producers who want to know more about the new changes to food regulations are invited to attend an information meeting next week. Along with information about the regulations GFBRAS will be giving an update on the development of the mobile abattoir and their application for a temporary licence.
With this new category of licence, GFBRAS needs meat producers to give them feedback to take to a meeting with the ministry scheduled for later in the month. “We need to understand which producers are interested in just doing farm gate sales, and who would still support the development of an abattoir,” explained Mona Mattei, abattoir project consultant for GFBRAS. “The society wants to support the local producers to do what is in their best interests, but the ministry needs to hear the feedback from our area producers before we go any further in the development of the mobile unit.” GFBRAS started work on the design and business plan for the abattoir in 2008. The design is near approval, but the funding is still in the development phase. Mattei said that the confusion among producers about the new licence has caused the society to slow down their process to be certain that the abattoir is the best solution for the area. The meeting they have arranged later in August with the Ministry will be to discuss options for licencing and ways to mitigate the outstanding barriers to completing the abattoir as planned. Abra Brynne, field staff for the Meat Industry Enhancement Strategy with the B.C. Food Processors Association, will be attending the meeting to provide the information on the class E licences. Doug Zorn, president of GFBRAS and Mattei will then provide information on the abattoir and open discussion to the group. The meeting is set for Saturday, Aug. 14 at 9:00 a.m. at Community Futures Boundary offices 1647 Central, Grand Forks.
