Proposed Emission Offsets Regulations

BC's Ministry of Environment intends to establish emission offsets regulations under the provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act (GGRTA), which came into force on January 1, 2008. The emission offsets regulations will set out requirements for greenhouse gas reductions and removals from projects or actions to be recognized as emission offsets for the purposes of fulfilling the provincial government's commitment to a carbon-neutral public sector by 2010. They will also set out details for the ministry's role in upholding the requirements of the GGRTA. Food-based businesses, along with others, will be affected. Read the Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation.

Major Support Develops for a National Food Processing Sectoral Council

In response to a demonstrated human resource need from the food processing industry, and after years of research and nation wide consultations with key stakeholders, the Food Processing Sector strongly endorsed the development of a national body to address its Human Resource challenges. Led by the National Food Advisory Committee, together with support from the National Seafood Sector Council (NSSC) and Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), this initiative has been anticipated for some time.

An excerpt from the groups' report states: “As a result of examining the study’s findings, food processors and key stakeholders expressed clear and strong support for the development of a national sector council for the food processing industry. Furthermore, based on the size of the sector and the critical nature of human resource challenges facing the industry, food processors as well as other key stakeholders agreed that there is an urgent need for the establishment of such a council."

Download the report here.

An Opportunity For Your Food-Based Business?
Making Healthy Choices More Accessible to the Public

The Healthy Food and Beverage Sales in Recreation Facilities and Local Government Buildings Initiative hosted an industry meeting in May, 2008. Its purpose was to engage the BC food industry and its support systems in making the sale of healthy food and beverages easier and more accessible. Input was provided by staff from the School Guidelines Support Initiative and Healthier Choices in Vending Machines in BC Public Buildings.

BC now has three healthy food and beverage sales (HFBS) initiatives. These are the result of a worldwide trend for healthy food and beverages prompted by disturbing chronic disease projections and associated spiraling health care costs. The new guidelines and programs create business opportunities for food producers, processors, and distributors in BC in meeting what will be growing demand in this province, and beyond our borders. Industry is a key strategic partner in the implementation of the HFBS initiatives - for example in providing healthy snack, food and beverage product options that meet the provincial guidelines.

A great deal of useful information about the HFBS process is available to the public:

• Criteria charts for healthy foods in school vending machines in BC (pdf document);
• HFBS Policy Reports;
• HFBS Guidelines;
• HFBS Industry Meeting Proceedings.

Eat BC! Fresh, Local, and Tasty

Participating Eat BC! restaurants, farms, grocery stores, and more work to celebrate BC's abundance and bounty and enhance the eating experience of BC residents. Visit its website to find local food suppliers, win prizes, and learn how you can make a difference just by choosing the great foods grown in BC.

"Growing Forward"
The Vision for Canada's Agriculture Sector

For the latest information on research, technology, policies and programs for security of the food system, health of the environment and innovation for growth, click here.

Made in Canada - Product of Canada

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Hon Gerry Ritz, announced proposed changes to the product of Canada labelling.

• Watch a video of the announcement (look for 21 May 2008)
• Read the media release
• Read the backgrounder document

British Columbia Farm Assessment Review

The Farm Assessment Review will review the farm classification process and regulations with a focus on simplifying and streamlining the regulations, while at the same time ensuring the property assessment system is fair, equitable, enhances competitiveness and supports innovation and the British Columbia Agriculture Plan and a healthy future for British Columbia families and communities. More info

Isolated Communities Get New Meat Transition Support

VICTORIA – Meat producers in remote and isolated communities are receiving additional assistance in the transition to becoming fully licensed, announced the ministers of Health and Agriculture today.

“B.C. is one of the last jurisdictions in Canada to make the transition to full licensing and inspection. Our provincial meat inspection regulation is vital to help protect the health and safety of all British Columbians,” said Health Minister George Abbott. “Having a system in place to track any problems also helps protect producers and processors from the devastating impact that can be caused by one case of disease that cannot be tracked or contained.”

To read the full press release, click here.

Globalization Survey

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) wants to know the challenges that global expansion represents for Canadian businesses. Click here to complete survey.

British Columbia's Agriculture Plan

BC's Ministry of Agriculture and Lands provincial agriculture plan is available on-line.

2010 Commerce Centre

The Winter Olympics will be HERE before you know it; don't let this pass you by. If you want to be an Olympic supplier, a subcontractor, or a licensee of products, visit the on-line Commerce Centre regularly and check out the opportunities. It's also a source of information on workshops and other events tied to the Olympics.

Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan

In response to the sharp rise in product recalls and safety concerns, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced that proposed legislation, to be introduced in the New Year, will alter the government’s approach to regulating product safety, stressing prevention rather than reaction.

New measures will include:

• Mandatory product recalls when companies fail to act on legitimate safety concerns
• Making importers responsible for the safety of goods they bring into Canada
• Increasing maximum fines under the Food and Drug Act from $5,000 up to current international standards.
• Better safety information for consumers and guidance to industries on building safety throughout their supply chains.

The Government will begin engaging consumer and industry stakeholders on how best to proceed with the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan in the New Year.

Nutritional Labelling News: Food Allergens

All food processors and distributors need to be up to date on matters of food allergies. Read what the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has to say in Questions and Answers Regarding the Labelling of Food Allergens..

Industry Councils Across Canada

Alberta: Agriculture and Food Council
British Columbia: B.C. Investment Agriculture Foundation
Manitoba: Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council
New Brunswick: New Brunswick Agriculture Council Inc./
Conseil Agricole du Noveau Brunswick Inc.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
Northwest Territories: Territorial Farmers Association
Nova Scotia: Agri-Futures Nova Scotia
Nunavut: Nunavut Harvesters' Association
Ontario: Agricultural Adaptation Council
Prince Edward Island: PEI ADAPT Council
(Adaptation Development Agricultural Production Technology Council)
Quebec: Conseil pour le développement de l'agriculture du Québec (CDAQ)
Fonds québécois d'adaptation des entreprises agroalimentaires, inc. (FQAEA)
Yukon: Yukon Agricultural Association (YAA)

FrontCounter BC: One Name, Many Services

Introducing "FrontCounter," a single-window, multi-channel service for clients of BC's natural resource ministries and agencies. Over 100 authorizations and permits related to natural resources from 13 partner agencies are offered through FrontCounter BC service channels.

However, it offers more than permits and authorizations.

Currently FrontCounter also provides: one stop business registration; BizPal; free internet access through Community Access Terminals; BCeID Identity Authentication Service; access to Small Business BC experts; access to Mineral Titles on-line; access to Livestock Registration Program; access to the Base Maps On-Line Store (maps, air photos, orthophotography).

Learn more at the FrontCounter BC website or through this presentation.

Can BC's Farmers Feed Its Growing Population?

The goal of this study, entitled BC Food's Self Reliance, was to get a perspective on total food production and food self-reliance in BC. It used a methodology to estimate food self reliance using farm gate production rather than wholesale value.

Reports from the Food Stakeholder Meeting,
November 23, 2007
Health Canada and Canadian Food Inspection Agency Ottawa, Ontario

Reports on the following timely subjects are available:

• An Examination of Country of Origin and Product of Canada Labelling Applied to Food
• Safety of Imported Products
• Update on Selected Food Policy Initiative

Buyer Beware: A Warning About
Bogus Bar Codes from GS1

GS1 is a world-wide, not-for-profit organisation. It develops international standards for product identification using barcodes and radio frequency identification as well as business-to-business standards for electronic commerce and data synchronisation. Today, over one million companies worldwide use GS1 standards. This has led to increased efficiencies in supply chain operations on a global scale and major cost reductions for business.

In Canada, GS1 Canada administers the GS1 System and is the only official source for GS1 barcode numbers and standards. Canadian manufacturers that obtain barcode numbers from web sites claiming the numbers originate with the worldwide body, GS1, and are unique globally, should exercise extreme caution. Only GS1 Canada is authorized to provide GS1 barcode numbers in Canada. ...Canadian manufacturers that obtain their barcode numbers from an unauthorised source may suffer losses if their products are rejected by retail.

Read the complete warning from GS1.