Seafood act meets producers' approval
New regulations that aim to reduce red tape in BC's seafood sector have been welcomed by the province's salmon farming industry.
Announced last week, BC’s new Fish and Seafood Act and associated regulations will be initiated on January 1st. The new regulation is deemed to be more responsive to the modern-day business environment for the province's seafood sector and aims to reduce red tape, while supporting sustainability, according to Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick.
“The Fish and Seafood Act is a big step forward to provide a modern regulatory framework for a world-class seafood sector providing healthy, safe and traceable food to British Columbians and markets around the world,” said Jeremy Dunn, Executive Director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association.
The regulations were developed following consultation with federal and provincial agencies, as well as a 2012 public web-based consultation that 57 organizations - including First Nations, fishers, seafood sector and local government representatives - took part in. The act will replace the Fish Inspection Act and the Fisheries Act.
The new act will replace outdated legislation with a more streamlined modern framework that builds on BC’s local and international reputation as a source of sustainable and trusted seafood products, and improves operating conditions for the sector.
The regulation also stands to strengthen food safety, increases enforcement regulation, and enables the creation of a seafood traceability system to support sustainability and consumer confidence.
The new act will also support BC seafood businesses by removing outdated references and conflicting sections of the outdated legislation. The Ministry of Agriculture will work with the seafood sector and related stakeholders as the ministry develops the regulations that will establish the licensing system.
