Greg Amos/Staff Writer
Local farmers are campaigning to fight the Ministry of Health's new meat inspection regulation (MIR) that came into effect across B.C. in late September.
For small-scale "farm gate" meat sellers - those who run small operations intending to sell red meat, poultry and eggs locally - the new regulation means an end to their way of doing business, as the rules call for all meat to be inspected before being sold. "Just when we need more people in rural communities to take as much responsibility as possible to feed ourselves, these regulations are dropped on us," said Robin Wheeler, a local organic farmer and chief organizer behind the "Be Subversive - Buy Local Food" campaign. She and other local farmers are raising awareness about the effect of the new regulations, which will mean prohibitive shipping costs for farmers now required to send their livestock to off-Coast slaughterhouses instead of doing the job themselves.
"I can see the big farms can afford to bring their cattle back in a refrigerated truck, but it's not going to happen for someone with a dozen chickens," said Wheeler. "I'm still buying the odd illegal chicken, but [farmers] are tucking their animals into their backyards. They're terrified," noting fines of up to $25,000 can now be incurred for selling meat to a neighbour.Local producers across B.C. complained about MIR when it was introduced, with some towns holding mock funeral processions to mourn "the death of the family farm."
A march in Smithers in late September saw more than 200 citizens show up in protest of the upcoming meat inspection regulations.
As a result of the outcry, a six-month transitional licence became available, allowing farmers who apply for it to continue selling meat at the farm gate until the end of March, provided the meat is not sold to restaurants or retailers and is marked as non-inspected meat.
B.C. Health Minister George Abbott said the MIR is a necessary step in preventing the outbreak of disease amongst livestock."Everyone believes any regulation is too much until somebody gets sick or dies from a tainted product," said Abbott. "What we are attempting to do is ensure there is a standard of safety and quality."
The transitional licence can be renewed twice, giving farmers 18 months to meet MIR standards, which are to be implemented by the B.C. Food Processors Association. MIR was to be introduced in 2006, but government provided a one-year extension to help farmers meet the new regulations. Grants of $100,000 will be available for farmers who apply to build a community slaughterhouse.
David Richardson, the owner of the Butcher Block meat market in Sechelt, said he doesn't sell uninspected meat, but is against the MIR because it "will hurt the small ma and pa operators who sell to their neighbours," he said, adding there's not enough of a cottage industry to support an inspector or an abattoir (a slaughterhouse) on the Sunshine Coast.
Roberts Creek produce farmer Dave Ryan is also involved in the campaign. He said he's skeptical about claims the regulation is being put into place solely for the public's protection.
"[Regulators] are telling a lie that our farms are unclean, unfriendly, inhumane places and that governments must protect citizens by legislating away the link between the farmer and the customer. Show us the harm - that's what we're asking," he said. "Our culture suffers from an industrial food system that has made every aspect of food disconnected from the whole."
Wheeler is also a part of Vancouver Coastal Health's food security initiative being conducted throughout the Lower Mainland and is writing a local book about food security, due to be published this year.
"Food will get more expensive as fuel prices rise - we have to regain control over local food," she said, noting lax rules to preserve B.C.'s agricultural land reserve (ALR) have meant half of it has been lost since it was established in the '70s, a reality that drives some farmers to use smaller acreages for food production.
"We used to be able to get local turkey on the Coast, and now it's illegal. These regulations are really about harmonization with international trade agreements, such as NAFTA [the North American Free Trade Agreement]," she said.
Wheeler said she expects the issue will gain traction at the Certified Organic Associations of B.C. (COABC) meeting in Sydney this March, where she expects hundreds of farmers will sign a petition.
The campaign's buttons, posters and bumper stickers are available at Ashley's Books in Sechelt and at the Roberts Creek Health Food Store.
