New meat licences leave local producers confused

By Mona Mattei

After years of farmers protesting regulations developed in 2006 by the B.C. government that prevented farm gate sales of meat without use of a licenced abattoir, the province has sent the industry into confusion with the introduction of two new licences. Local producers are left feeling that they have been chasing their own tails for the last four years, spending time and money trying to build facilities that would provide local meat inspection. Now, it seems that the province is opening up the regulations to allow livestock producers to slaughter their animals again.