349/2004

O.C. 798/2004

July 23, 2004

September 1, 2004

Food Safety Act

Meat Inspection Regulation

[Last amended September 8, 2025 by B.C. Reg. 147/2025]

349_2004_pit

Definitions and Application

Definitions

In this regulation:

Act means the Food Safety Act ;

animal means, except in

section 31, an animal raised for food;

animal unit means a combined animal weight, when measured alive, of 455 kg (1 000 lbs);

carcass includes a part of a carcass in respect of which no further processing has occurred;

condemned means, for an animal or carcass, determined by an inspector to be contaminated or otherwise unfit for human or animal consumption;

emergency slaughter approval form means the form specified by the minister for the purposes of

section 14 or 14.1, as applicable;

equipment means a non-food

article that is used in the operation of a slaughter establishment;

farmgate slaughter establishment means a slaughter establishment in respect of which a farmgate plus licence or farmgate licence has been issued;

food premises means "food premises" as defined in the Food Premises Regulation;

food safety plan , in relation to a slaughter establishment, means

the written food safety plan submitted under

section 6 (1) (c), if no revisions to the plan have been made under

section 9.1 (3), or

if revisions have been made under

section 9.1 (3), the most recent written food safety plan for the slaughter establishment;

handwashing station means a hand basin provided with

hot and cold running water,

soap in a dispenser, and

a forced air hand dryer or a method of hand drying that uses products that are designed to be used only once and then discarded;

held means, for an animal or carcass, detained for examination or inspection under this regulation by an inspector;

ID number means one or both of the following, as applicable:

the identifying number issued by the minister with respect to a licensed slaughter establishment;

if a licence holder is participating in a traceability program, a unique identifier, composed of a series of numbers and letters, issued by the minister with respect to the premises on which the holder's slaughter establishment is located;

inedible means, for a carcass, determined by an inspector to be contaminated or otherwise unfit for human consumption but suitable for use for animal food;

inspection legend stamp means the stamp that an inspector imposes or causes to be imposed on a carcass at the time of inspection to indicate that the carcass is not contaminated and is fit for human consumption;

licence means a licence, referred to in

section 5 of the Act, issued under this regulation;

licence holder means a person who holds a licence for a slaughter establishment;

licensed abattoir means a slaughter establishment in respect of which an abattoir licence has been issued;

livestock area means the yards or pens of a slaughter establishment where animals are received and contained before slaughter;

meat product means

anything derived from a carcass, or

organs, intestines or blood from an animal;

passed means, for an animal or carcass, determined by an inspector to be fit for human consumption;

pests includes insects;

poultry includes domesticated chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, ratites, squab and pheasants;

sanitizing station means a rust resistant metal basin provided with a continuous flow of hot water maintained at a minimum temperature of 82°C;

slaughter area means an area of a slaughter establishment in which animals are slaughtered, eviscerated and sectioned;

slaughter establishment means a food establishment at which animals are slaughtered, but does not include the following food premises if they are in the same building or on the same property:

food premises where carcasses are processed into meat products for human consumption following applicable carcass preparation steps;

food premises where meat products for human consumption are sold directly to the public;

storage area means the area of a slaughter establishment in which carcasses are stored;

temporary food market means a food establishment operated at a fixed location on a temporary basis in connection with a charitable or public event, and includes, without limitation, a farmers' market;

veterinarian means a person who is registered under the Veterinarians Act .

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 1; 102/2010, s. 1; 80/2011, s. 1; 58/2013, Sch., s. 1; 205/2014, s. 1; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 1.]

When Act does not apply

The Act does not apply to a slaughter establishment that is registered under the Safe Food for Canadians Act (Canada).

The Act does not apply to the slaughter of an animal if all of the following conditions are met:

the slaughter occurs on the premises of the animal's owner;

the slaughter is for the purposes of the personal consumption of the animal by

the owner or the owner's immediate household or immediate family members, or

the owner's employees, if the employees are employed on the premises where the slaughter occurs;

no part of the animal is sold to or otherwise made available for consumption by the public.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 2.]

Repealed

Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 205/2014, s. 3.]

Designation and Licensing

Slaughter establishments must be licensed

Slaughter establishments are designated as being subject to

Part 2 of the Act.

A person must not operate a slaughter establishment unless the person holds a licence.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 3.]

Application for abattoir licence

A person may apply for an abattoir licence by submitting to the minister all of the following:

an application;

any additional information the minister requires for the purpose of evaluating the application.

An applicant must submit records and information required under this

section in the form and manner specified by the minister.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 3.]

Application for farmgate plus or farmgate licence

A person may apply for a farmgate plus licence or a farmgate licence by submitting to the minister all of the following:

an application;

evidence of having successfully completed training that, in the opinion of the minister, is relevant to the operation of a farmgate slaughter establishment;

a written food safety plan that identifies

possible sources of contamination in the slaughter establishment before, during and after slaughter, and

the steps to be taken to ensure that carcasses in the slaughter establishment are not contaminated or are not otherwise made unfit for human consumption;

any additional information the minister requires for the purpose of evaluating the application.

In addition to the requirements of subsection (1), a person applying for a farmgate plus licence must submit to the minister a feasibility study report prepared in accordance with

section 6.1.

An applicant must submit records and information required under this

section in the form and manner specified by the minister.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 3.]

Feasibility study for farmgate plus licence

6.1

For the purpose of conducting a feasibility study, an applicant for a farmgate plus licence must do all of the following:

consult with

all licence holders operating licensed abattoirs within 100 km of the applicant's proposed slaughter establishment, and

the municipality and regional district within which the proposed slaughter establishment is to be located;

determine the need for slaughter capacity of the species proposed to be slaughtered in the area in which the proposed slaughter establishment is to be located, including

whether any existing licensed abattoirs can provide slaughter services in the area,

whether animals must be transported over marine waters to a licensed abattoir if not slaughtered at the proposed slaughter establishment, and

iii

the need for specialized slaughter capacity in the area, if specialized slaughter is proposed to be offered;

determine whether a licensed abattoir would be viable in the area in which the proposed slaughter establishment is to be located.

An applicant for a farmgate plus licence must prepare a feasibility study report that includes a description of all of the following:

the geographic location of the proposed slaughter establishment;

the consultations referred to in subsection (1) (a);

the determinations made under subsection (1) (

b) and (

c) and the reasons for those determinations.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 3.]

Slaughter maximums for farmgate slaughter establishments

6.2

In this section, "compliance year" means the one-year period that

begins,

in the case of a new licence, on the date that the licence is issued, and

in any other case, on the anniversary of the licence issue date, and

ends immediately before the next anniversary of the licence issue date.

A holder of a farmgate plus licence must ensure that, in any compliance year, no more than 25 animal units are slaughtered at the licence holder's slaughter establishment.

A holder of a farmgate licence must ensure that, in any compliance year, no more than 5 animal units are slaughtered at the licence holder's slaughter establishment.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 3.]

Posting licence

A licence holder must post the holder's licence in a conspicuous location in the holder's slaughter establishment.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 3.]

Licence expiry

7.1

A licence expires on the earliest of the following dates that applies:

the date that is 5 years from the date on which the licence was

issued, if subparagraph (ii) does not apply, or

last renewed;

the date stated in the licence;

the date that the licence is cancelled under the Act.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 3.]

Class A, B, D or E licences

7.2

In this section:

deemed licence means a licence that, under subsection (2), is deemed to be an abattoir licence or a farmgate plus licence;

former

Part 2 means

Part 2 as it read immediately before its repeal on the transition date;

transition date means the date on which this

section came into force.

Subject to subsection (4), a person is deemed to hold a licence issued under

Part 2 if, immediately before the transition date, the person held a licence issued under the former

Part 2 as follows:

a Class A or B licence is deemed to be an abattoir licence;

a Class D or E licence is deemed to be a farmgate plus licence.

A person who holds a deemed licence continues to be subject to all terms, restrictions and conditions imposed under the person's Class A, B, D or E licence except a restriction or condition with respect to

the area in which meat products from the person's slaughter establishment are sold to consumers, and

the types of persons to whom meat products from the person's slaughter establishment may be sold.

A person continues to hold a deemed licence until the earliest of the following dates that applies:

in the case of a person who held a Class A or B licence, the date that is 5 years from

the date that the Class A or B licence was issued, if issued less than 5 years before the transition date, or

the transition date, if subparagraph (

i) does not apply;

in the case of a person who held a Class D or E licence, the date that the Class D or E licence was to expire;

the date that the person's deemed licence is cancelled under the Act.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 3.]

Obligations of Operator

Plans and specifications for abattoir to be approved

0.1

This

section applies to the construction or alteration of a slaughter establishment that is intended to be a licensed abattoir.

A person must not construct or alter a slaughter establishment or cause a slaughter establishment to be constructed or altered unless an inspector has approved the plans and specifications for the construction or alteration.

Before starting the construction or alteration of a slaughter establishment, an applicant for approval under subsection (1) must

submit to an inspector a copy of the complete plans and specifications for the proposed construction or alteration, and

provide the inspector with any other information respecting the proposed construction or alteration that the inspector reasonably requires.

The inspector may approve the plans and specifications submitted under subsection (2) if a slaughter establishment that is constructed or altered in accordance with the plans and specifications is, in the opinion of the inspector, capable of being operated in compliance with the requirements of

section 9.

[am. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 4.]

Obligations respecting the operation of establishments

A person must not operate a licensed abattoir unless the person

ensures that the construction of the licensed abattoir is and remains sound,

operates the licensed abattoir in a manner that ensures that the animals and carcasses are handled in a sanitary manner and without risk of contamination or spoilage of any carcass produced or stored by the licensed abattoir,

ensures that materials from which the licensed abattoir is constructed

are and remain suitable for their intended purpose, and

are durable, easily cleaned and free from any noxious or toxic substances,

ensures that the licensed abattoir is separate from and without direct access to

living quarters, or

any area in which activities are carried out that are incompatible with the sanitary handling of animals or carcasses,

supplies water to the licensed abattoir from a source that is both potable and not capable of contaminating a carcass,

ensures that the licensed abattoir is connected at all times to a waste disposal system,

supplies an adequate quantity of hot and cold water under the pressure necessary to meet the water needs of the establishment,

provides artificial lighting that is adequate in intensity so as to enable the sanitary operation and maintenance of the establishment,

provides staff dressing rooms that allow staff to change their clothing in a private and clean environment,

maintains and uses ventilation equipment so as to prevent any accumulation of smoke, grease, water vapour and objectionable odours, and

maintains and uses the equipment necessary so as to ensure that the slaughter of animals and the storage and processing of carcasses is done in a manner that is sanitary and poses no risk of contamination or spoilage of any carcasses produced or stored by the licensed abattoir.

A person must not operate a licensed abattoir unless the person

ensures that at all times there is a segregation of activities so that contamination of the animals or carcasses is prevented, including the segregation of all of the following from each other:

livestock areas of the licensed abattoir;

slaughter areas of the licensed abattoir;

iii

storage areas of the licensed abattoir;

food premises in the same building as the licensed abattoir, if applicable,

maintains and ensures that separate rooms, spaces and equipment are used solely for the segregation and disposal of held, inedible or condemned animals and carcasses, and

maintains and uses a sufficient number of sanitizing stations to ensure the effective sanitizing of knives.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 8; 58/2013, Sch., s. 6; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 5.]

Compliance requirements for operation of farmgate slaughter establishments

9.1

A person must not operate a farmgate slaughter establishment unless the person ensures that all of the following requirements are met:

if water is used during slaughter, that only potable water is used;

that an animal in the slaughter establishment is kept before slaughter and slaughtered in a humane manner;

that the slaughter establishment is operated in a manner that ensures that animals and carcasses are handled, slaughtered and stored in a sanitary manner and without risk of contamination or spoilage of any carcass produced or stored by the slaughter establishment;

that each carcass stored by the slaughter establishment is stored at a temperature sufficient to prevent the risk of spoilage;

that pests are not present during the handling, slaughter or storage of animals or carcasses;

that equipment is

maintained in a sanitary condition, and

operated in a manner that is sanitary;

that each employee, while working in the slaughter establishment,

wears clean clothing and footwear,

does not smoke in any area where carcasses are prepared, stored or distributed, and

iii

washes the employee's hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of carcasses;

that an animal slaughtered in the slaughter establishment is in good health.

A farmgate plus or farmgate licence holder must complete training, as specified by the minister, relevant to the operation of a farmgate slaughter establishment.

A farmgate plus or farmgate licence holder must

have a written food safety plan that

identifies possible sources of contamination in the slaughter establishment before, during and after slaughter, and

establishes the steps to be taken to ensure that carcasses in the slaughter establishment are not contaminated or are not otherwise made unfit for human consumption,

have the food safety plan posted in a conspicuous location in the slaughter establishment,

at least once each year, review the food safety plan and, if directed by an inspector or if otherwise appropriate for the purposes referred to in paragraph (a), update the food safety plan, and

follow the steps established by the food safety plan.

[en. B.C. Reg. 102/2010, s. 7; am. B.C. Regs. 58/2013, Sch., s. 7; 205/2014, s. 9; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 6; 76/2022, s. 4.]

Operation of Slaughter Establishments

Inspection and Slaughter at Licensed Abattoirs

Inspection requirements for abattoirs

An inspector must have regard to the requirements related to food safety and animal health established under

Part 6, Division 7, Subdivisions E, G and H of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (Canada) when doing the following:

conducting an inspection of an animal or carcass in a licensed abattoir;

determining if an animal or carcass in a licensed abattoir is to be passed, held or condemned.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 8.]

Removal of animals from livestock area

A person must not remove an animal from the livestock area of a licensed abattoir unless

an inspector permits the removal, or

it is removed in accordance with this Division.

[am. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 9.]

Inspection of animals before slaughter

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that before an animal intended for slaughter leaves the livestock area, it is inspected by an inspector and identified as

passed,

held, or

condemned.

Despite subsection (1), an abattoir licence holder may allow poultry or rabbits intended for slaughter to leave the livestock area after an inspector has inspected only a sample of the poultry or rabbits, as the case may be, and has identified the poultry or rabbits as

passed,

held, or

condemned.

Subject to subsection (5), an abattoir licence holder may allow an animal to enter the slaughter area only if the animal is identified as passed under subsection (1) or (2).

An abattoir licence holder must move an animal that is identified as held or condemned under subsection (1) or (2) to the area specified by an inspector and keep the animal in that area until the inspector approves the animal entering the slaughter area or provides other instructions.

If the inspector provides approval under subsection (4), the abattoir licence holder may allow an animal in the held area to enter the slaughter area.

If an inspector identifies an animal as condemned under this section, the abattoir licence holder must slaughter the animal as directed by an inspector and remove the animal to the condemned area for disposal.

[am. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 10.]

Humane slaughter

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that an animal in the licensed abattoir is kept before slaughter and slaughtered in accordance with the requirements relating to the humane treatment of animals established under

Part 6, Division 7, Subdivision C of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (Canada).

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 11.]

Holding in slaughter area for inspection

13.1

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that, after the slaughter of an animal at the holder's licensed abattoir, the carcass is not removed from the slaughter area until inspection under

section 15 is completed.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 11.]

Exception to movement prohibition

13.2

Despite

section 13.1, a carcass may be removed before inspection from the slaughter area of a licensed abattoir if all of the following conditions are met:

the abattoir licence holder applies to the minister, in the form and manner specified by the minister, for an exemption from that section;

the application identifies a temporary holding area that is located separately from the livestock area, storage area, slaughter area or the held area referred to in

section 15;

the minister

grants the exemption referred to in paragraph (a), and

approves the temporary holding area identified in the application, with or without directions respecting the storage of the carcass and of the slaughtered animal and of any parts removed from the carcass.

If an exemption is granted, the abattoir licence holder must ensure all of the following:

that carcasses are moved to the temporary holding area only at the direction of an inspector;

that, if any

part is removed from a carcass that is moved to the temporary holding area, the carcass and removed part are marked or labelled in a manner that they may be readily linked as coming from the same slaughtered animal;

that a carcass is not removed from the temporary holding area until inspection of the carcass under

section 15 is complete.

For the purposes of subsection (2) (a), an inspector may give directions respecting a single carcass or a class of carcasses.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 11.]

Emergency slaughter at licensed abattoir

Despite sections 12 and 13.1, an animal may be slaughtered at a licensed abattoir when no inspector is present at the licensed abattoir, and the carcass may be held for inspection under

section 15, if all of the following requirements are met:

the slaughter is necessary for humane reasons;

before the slaughter, a veterinarian

approves the slaughter, and

prepares and signs an emergency slaughter approval form;

after the slaughter, the abattoir licence holder

identifies the carcass as held, stores it in a manner that prevents contact with any other carcass and keeps it in that manner until inspection under

section 15 is complete, and

identifies the head and offal from the carcass in a manner that allows this material to be matched with the carcass, stores the material separately from the carcass and retains it for inspection by the inspector who conducts the carcass inspection under

section 15;

the abattoir licence holder must provide the emergency slaughter approval form to the inspector before the inspection under

section 15 is conducted.

After completing the inspections referred to in subsection (1) (c), the inspector must complete and retain the emergency slaughter approval form.

[en. B.C. Reg. 205/2014, s. 11; am. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 12.]

Emergency slaughter other than at licensed abattoir

14.1

Despite sections 12 and 13.1, an animal intended for slaughter after inspection under

section 12 may be slaughtered and the carcass delivered to a licensed abattoir for inspection under

section 15 if all of the following requirements are met:

the slaughter is necessary because the animal

is in a physical condition that precludes it from being transported to a licensed abattoir without undue suffering, or

poses a high risk of significant injury to humans if it is transported to a licensed abattoir;

before the slaughter, a veterinarian

approves the slaughter as meeting the requirements of paragraph (a), and

prepares and signs an emergency slaughter approval form;

after the slaughter, the carcass and the emergency slaughter approval form are delivered to the licensed abattoir as soon as practicable;

before accepting delivery of the carcass, the abattoir licence holder for the licensed abattoir, or an authorized employee of the abattoir licence holder, completes and signs the emergency slaughter approval form to indicate that acceptance.

If a carcass has been accepted for delivery under this section, the abattoir licence holder must

notify an inspector of the acceptance as soon as practicable,

deal with the carcass in accordance with

section 14 (1) (c), and

provide the emergency slaughter approval form to the inspector before the inspection under

section 15 is conducted.

After completing the inspections referred to in

section 14 (1) (c), the inspector must complete and retain the emergency slaughter approval form.

[en. B.C. Reg. 205/2014, Sch., s. 11; am. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 13.]

Inspection of carcasses after slaughter

The inspection of a carcass at a licensed abattoir is completed once

an inspector has inspected the carcass,

the inspector has identified the carcass as

passed,

held,

iii

inedible, or

condemned, and

the inspector, or a person authorized by the inspector, has placed an impression of the inspection legend stamp on each half or quarter carcass that is identified as passed under paragraph (b).

Subsection (1) (

c) does not apply in respect of the carcasses of poultry or rabbits.

If under subsection (1) an inspector identifies a carcass as held, the abattoir licence holder must

identify the carcass in the manner the inspector directs, and

remove the carcass to the held area until the inspector provides further instructions with respect to that carcass.

If an inspector identifies a carcass under this

section as inedible or condemned, the abattoir licence holder must

identify the carcass in the manner the inspector directs,

remove the carcass to the inedible area or condemned area, as the case may be, for disposal, and

dispose of the carcass as directed by the inspector.

[am. B.C. Regs. 205/2014, s. 12; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 14.]

Inspection legend stamps

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that an impression of the inspection legend stamp is not a part of the name or logo of the holder's licensed abattoir.

Unless authorized by an inspector, a person must not

have an inspection legend stamp in the person's custody or control, or

apply an inspection legend stamp to a carcass.

A person must not

alter an inspection legend stamp, or

use an inspection legend stamp on any held, inedible or condemned carcasses.

[am. B.C. Regs. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 15; 76/2022, s. 4.]

Definitions for sections 16.2 to 16.7

16.1

In this

section and sections 16.2 to 16.7:

executive director means the person who holds the position of executive director of the Food Safety Inspection Branch of the ministry of the minister;

exempted holder means a person within a class of licensees described in an exemption order;

exemption order means an order made under

section 16.2 (1);

provincial inspector means an inspector who is employed by the government of British Columbia.

[en. B.C. Reg. 147/2025, s. 1.]

Exemption orders

16.2

Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the minister may, by order, exempt holders of abattoir licences and their licensed abattoirs from the application of sections 11 (a), 12, 13.1, 14 (1) (c), (

d) and (2), 14.1 (2) and (3), 15, 20 and 29.1.

The minister may make an exemption order only if the minister has reason to believe that, due to a strike within the meaning of the Labour Relations Code , R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 244, there is not, or will not be, a sufficient number of provincial inspectors available to perform duties under this regulation.

For the purposes of subsection (2), the minister may consider the effects of a strike on provincial inspectors regardless of whether provincial inspectors have themselves ceased, refused or slowed work, or are participating in other strike activity.

In an exemption order, the minister may limit the exemption to holders of abattoir licences whose licensed abattoirs are within a geographic area specified in the order.

The minister must rescind an exemption order as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the strike described in subsection (2).

[en. B.C. Reg. 147/2025, s. 1.]

If exemption order made

16.3

If an exemption order is made,

an exempted holder is not, despite anything to the contrary in any provision that continues to apply, required to hold an animal for inspection or have a carcass inspected, and

section 14.1 (1) applies to an animal that is slaughtered and its carcass delivered to the licensed abattoir of an exempted holder as if

the animal was intended for slaughter after inspection under

section 12, and

the carcass was delivered to be inspected under

section 15.

[en. B.C. Reg. 147/2025, s. 1.]

Assessment if exemption order made

16.4

section 12 would have applied if an exemption order had not been made, an exempted holder must have each animal intended for slaughter assessed before the animal leaves the livestock area to determine whether the animal may be contaminated or otherwise unfit for human or animal consumption.

Despite subsection (1), an assessment of live poultry or rabbits may be completed by assessing only a sample of the poultry or rabbits.

section 14 (1) applies, or if

section 15 would have applied if an exemption order had not been made, an exempted holder must have each carcass assessed to determine whether the carcass may be contaminated or otherwise unfit for human or animal consumption.

An exempted holder must ensure that a record is made of each assessment, including whether the animal or carcass is assessed as

not contaminated and fit for human or animal consumption, or

contaminated or otherwise unfit for human or animal consumption.

An exempted holder must designate, in writing, one or more employees to complete assessments and make records for the purposes of this section.

[en. B.C. Reg. 147/2025, s. 1.]

If assessed as not contaminated and fit

16.5

An exempted holder may store and sell a carcass, and meat products made from a carcass, that is assessed as not contaminated and fit for human or animal consumption.

[en. B.C. Reg. 147/2025, s. 1.]

If no assessment or assessed as contaminated or unfit

16.6

This

section applies if

an animal or carcass is not assessed as required under

section 16.4,

an animal or carcass is assessed as contaminated or otherwise unfit for human or animal consumption, or

an animal is slaughtered and its carcass delivered as described in

section 16.3 (b).

If this

section applies, an exempted holder must ensure that

the animal does not enter the slaughter area,

the animal or carcass is removed to the condemned area for disposal, and

the carcass or meat products made from the carcass are not sold or stored for the purpose of sale.

[en. B.C. Reg. 147/2025, s. 1.]

Additional duties

16.7

An exempted holder must keep the following records and produce them on request of the executive director:

the emergency slaughter approval form made with respect to an animal slaughtered under

section 14 (1) (

a) or 14.1 (1) (a);

the record of assessment made in accordance with

section 16.4 (4).

An exempted holder must immediately notify the executive director of any circumstance at the holder's licensed abattoir that might pose an immediate or significant risk of contamination of a carcass.

[en. B.C. Reg. 147/2025, s. 1.]

Repealed

Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 16.]

Protection of Carcasses

Protection of carcasses from contamination

A licence holder must ensure that all carcasses at the slaughter establishment are

protected from contamination, and

stored, handled, prepared and packaged in a manner that is sanitary and is without risk of contamination or spoilage.

[am. B.C. Reg. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 11.]

Cooling and storage temperature

The licence holder for a slaughter establishment must ensure that each carcass is

continuously cooled until its internal temperature is 4°C, and

stored at a room temperature of 4°C or less.

[en. B.C. Reg. 58/2013, Sch., s. 9.]

Notification of possible contamination

An abattoir licence holder must immediately notify an inspector of any circumstance at the holder's licensed abattoir that might pose an immediate or significant risk of contamination of a carcass.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 13; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 17.]

Equipment and Cleaning

Equipment

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that all equipment in the holder's licensed abattoir is

constructed from materials that are

suitable for their intended purpose, and

durable, easily cleaned and free from any noxious or toxic substance,

in good working order, and

operated in a manner that ensures that the handling of animals and carcasses is sanitary and is without risk of contamination or spoilage of carcasses.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 14; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 17.]

Cleaning and maintenance

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that the holder's licensed abattoir and the equipment in the holder's licensed abattoir are maintained in a sanitary condition.

Without limiting subsection (1), a licence holder must ensure that the holder's licensed abattoir and the equipment in the holder's licensed abattoir are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes all contamination.

Without limiting subsection (1), a licence holder must provide at the holder's licensed abattoir

the facilities and equipment necessary to meet the requirements of subsections (1) and (2), and

garbage or refuse containers that are

sufficient in size and number to meet the needs of that establishment, and

pest-proof.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 15; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 17.]

Storage

An abattoir licence holder must not permit anything that is not required for the operation of the holder's licensed abattoir to be stored in that holder's licensed abattoir.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 18.]

Refrigeration equipment

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that all refrigeration equipment in the holder's licensed abattoir

is of a type and capacity that is adequate to meet the needs of that establishment,

is capable of maintaining the temperatures required by

section 19, and

is equipped with a thermometer that is accurate to within 1 C.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 16; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 17.]

Equipment for inedible or condemned carcasses

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that equipment used in the holder's licensed abattoir to collect inedible or condemned carcasses is clearly identified and used only for the collection or conveyance of inedible or condemned carcasses.

[am. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 19.]

Employees

Employee hygiene

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that each employee, while working in the holder's licensed abattoir,

wears clean clothing and footwear,

exhibits cleanliness and good personal hygiene,

takes adequate measures to ensure that carcasses are not contaminated by hair,

does not smoke in any area where carcasses are prepared, stored or distributed, and

engages in proper handwashing as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of carcasses.

An abattoir licence holder must supply and maintain in the holder's licensed abattoir an adequate number of handwashing stations and ensure that the handwashing stations are located so that each employee has easy access to at least one handwashing station.

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that the holder's licensed abattoir contains an adequate number of clean and sanitary washrooms for the number of persons working at that holder's licensed abattoir.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 16; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 20.]

Operational Safety Management

Animal and carcass safety procedures

In this section:

critical control point means a location in a licensed abattoir, or a step in the licensed abattoir's procedures, where failure to comply with the Act or this regulation might result in the contamination of carcasses or making carcasses otherwise unfit for human consumption;

critical limit means food safety standards that must be met at a critical control point.

An abattoir licence holder must develop, maintain and follow written procedures that ensure that carcasses in the holder's licensed abattoir are not contaminated or are not otherwise made unfit for human consumption.

The written procedures required under subsection (2) must include the following:

the identification of all critical control points;

the identification of all critical limits;

the method to be followed to ensure adherence to the critical limits;

the actions to be taken in the event that the critical limits are not adhered to.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 17; 58/2013, Sch., s. 10; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 21.]

Sanitation procedures

An abattoir licence holder must develop, maintain and follow written procedures that ensure the holder's licensed abattoir is operated in a manner that is sanitary and poses no risk of contamination or spoilage of carcasses, including, without limitation,

the cleaning and sanitizing requirements for that establishment and for all equipment,

the identification of cleaning and sanitizing agents used in that establishment, including their concentrations and their uses, and

the identification of all pesticides used in that establishment, including their uses and their storage requirements.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 18; 58/2013, Sch., s. 10; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 17.]

Records

Record requirements

A licence holder of a slaughter establishment must maintain, for each animal that enters the slaughter establishment, records that show

the location from which the animal was shipped to the slaughter establishment, and

the name, address and telephone number of the person who owned the animal at the time it was shipped to the slaughter establishment.

A licence holder of a slaughter establishment need not maintain the records required under subsection (1) for a flock or shipment of poultry or rabbits if the licence holder maintains for the flock or shipment records that show

the location from which the flock or shipment was shipped, and

the name, address and telephone number of the person who owned the flock or shipment at the time it was shipped to the slaughter establishment.

6.1

Sale of Carcasses and Meat Products

Restriction on abattoir sales

29.1

In this section:

inspected and passed means inspected, and passed by an inspector, under the Act or the Safe Food for Canadians Act (Canada);

store means to store for the purpose of sale.

An abattoir licence holder must not store or sell

a carcass slaughtered at the holder's slaughter establishment unless the carcass has been inspected and passed, or

a meat product made from a carcass slaughtered at the holder's slaughter establishment unless the carcass from which the meat product was made has been inspected and passed.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 22.]

Restriction on farmgate sales

29.2

A farmgate licence holder must not sell carcasses slaughtered at the holder's slaughter establishment or meat products made from a carcass slaughtered at the holder's slaughter establishment except as follows:

sales must be made directly to consumers only;

sales must be made only from a location that is

a food premises located on the same property as the slaughter establishment,

a temporary food market located in the regional district in which the slaughter establishment is located, or

iii

a temporary food market located within 50 km of the slaughter establishment.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 22.]

Requirements for labelling carcasses

29.3

A licence holder who sells a carcass slaughtered at the holder's slaughter establishment must ensure that the purchaser is given, in writing, all of the following information:

the name, address and ID number of the slaughter establishment;

the net weight of the carcass.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 22.]

Requirements for labelling packaged meat products

29.4

A licence holder who sells a packaged meat product made from a carcass slaughtered at the holder's slaughter establishment must ensure that the package is labelled with all of the following information:

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.

In addition to the requirements under subsection (1),

a farmgate plus licence holder must include a label with

the ID number of the slaughter establishment, and

the words, "Not Government Inspected", and

a farmgate licence holder must include a label with

the ID number of the slaughter establishment, and

the words, "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".

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 22.]

No resale of purchases from farmgate licence holder

29.5

A person must not resell either of the following:

a carcass slaughtered at the slaughter establishment of a farmgate licence holder;

a meat product made from a carcass slaughtered at the slaughter establishment of a farmgate licence holder.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 22.]

Resale requirements if purchase from farmgate plus licence holder

29.6

This

section applies if a person purchases either of the following:

a carcass slaughtered at the slaughter establishment of a farmgate plus licence holder;

a meat product made from a carcass slaughtered at the slaughter establishment of a farmgate plus licence holder.

A person who purchases a carcass or meat product referred to in subsection (1) must not resell the carcass or meat product except as follows:

if the carcass or meat product is packaged, the package must be labelled with the ID number of the slaughter establishment and the words, "Not Government Inspected";

if the carcass or meat product is not packaged, the person must advise the purchaser, in writing, that the carcass, or the carcass from which the meat product was made, was not government inspected.

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 22.]

General

Repealed

Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 23.]

Excluded animals

An abattoir licence holder must not permit an animal, other than an animal that is raised for food, to enter the holder's licensed abattoir.

[am. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 17.]

Pests

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that the holder's licensed abattoir is

free of pests,

free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests, and

protected against the entrance of pests.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 20; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 17.]

Storage of chemicals

A licence holder must ensure that chemicals, cleansers and other similar non-food substances that are on the premises of the slaughter establishment are stored in

a room or cabinet separate from any carcasses, and

non-food containers that are clearly labelled to identify the contents.

[am. B.C. Reg. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 21.]

Recalls

An abattoir licence holder must develop and maintain written procedures that, when followed, ensure that the holder is able to comply with an order under

section 12 (4) (

c) of the Act for the immediate recall of a carcass distributed from the holder's licensed abattoir.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 21; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 24.]

Inspectors

An abattoir licence holder must ensure that

an office and a clean and sanitary washroom are conveniently located in or close to the holder's licensed abattoir for easy access by inspectors, and

the office referred to in paragraph (

a) contains a locked cabinet and other furniture and equipment that an inspector needs in order to carry out the powers, functions and duties of an inspector under the Act.

[am. B.C. Regs. 299/2007, Sch. B, s. 22; 213/2021, App. 1, s. 17.]

Offences

Offences

A person who contravenes any of the following provisions commits an offence:

section 4 (2) [slaughter establishments must be licensed] ;

section 6.2 [slaughter maximums for farmgate slaughter establishments] ;

section 7 [posting licence] ;

sections 8 (1) and (2), 9 and 9.1 [Obligations of Operators] ;

sections 11 to 13.1, 13.2 (2), 14 (1) (c), 14.1 (2) (b), 15 (3) and (4) and 16 [Inspection and Slaughter at Licensed Abattoirs] ;

e.1

sections 16.4 (1) and (3) to (5), 16.6 (2) and 16.7 [exempted holders] ;

sections 18 to 29.6 and 30 to 35 [operating, labelling and sale] .

[en. B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 25; am. B.C. Reg. 147/2025, s. 2.]

Schedule 1

Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 205/2014, s. 14.]

Schedule 2

Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 213/2021, App. 1, s. 26.]

[Provisions relevant to the enactment of this regulation: Food Safety Act , S.B.C. 2002, c. 28, ss. 4 and 23.]