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Regulated Marketing

Last updated on February 29, 2024

B.C.’s regulated marketing system is a government-legislated system that provides for the orderly production and marketing of certain agricultural commodities. Agricultural commodity boards, with government-appointed chairs, regulate each of the sectors.

A summary of the overarching purpose of regulated marketing may be found in the Ministry of Agriculture “2004 Regulated Marketing Economic Policy”:

The regulated marketing system operates in the interests of all British Columbians. Boards and Commissions operating under the authority of the Natural Products Marketing (BC) Act are responsive to the needs of British Columbia producers, as well as to processors, consumers, and other participants in the British Columbia food system.

B.C. Farm Industry Review Board’s Role

BCFIRB is responsible for the general supervision of B.C.’s agricultural commodity boards, acting as a signatory to some agreements (for example, federal-provincial), and for hearing appeals from any person aggrieved or dissatisfied by an order, decision or determination of a marketing board or commission.

Regulated Sectors in B.C.

Supply Managed Commodities: In B.C., broiler hatching eggs, chicken, table eggs, cow milk, and turkey are regulated both provincially and federally under a system of supply management by the respective boards and commissions.

Non-Supply Managed Commodities: Cranberries, hogs and vegetables are regulated provincially by the respective commissions. These commodities are not subject to the same production, import and price controls as supply-managed products. 

Boards and commissions in B.C., including those that are supply managed, set exemptions for personal consumption, farm gate sales, and small-lot production. For more information contact the individual commodity boards.

Overall, B.C.’s regulated marketing sector contributes just over half of provincial farm cash receipts. 

Opportunities in Regulated Marketing

If you are interested in producing a regulated product, please see the following summary of licencing requirements and new entrant opportunities.

B.C.'s Agriculture Commodity Boards

Industry Snapshots

The following industry snapshots for 2021 provide overviews of the regulated sectors, including key facts, issues and opportunities, and governance approach.

​Contact BCFIRB

Frequently Asked Questions: BC's Agricultural Commodity Board and Commission Creation and Decommissioning

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How do you establish a regulated marketing board and/or commission in British Columbia?

The regulated marketing system provides for the orderly production and marketing of certain agricultural commodities. The marketing boards and commissions operate under the authority of the Natural Products Marketing (BC) Act (NPMA). Under the NPMA, Sections 2(2), 10(1), 12(1), 13, and 22 (2) & (3) provide the Lieutenant Governor in Council with the authority to:

  • establish schemes for the promotion, control, and regulation of the marketing of natural products approved by a majority in a plebiscite in the area of B.C. covered by the schemes,
  • constitute marketing boards to administer the schemes, and vest in those marketing boards and commissions the powers considered necessary or advisable to enable them to carry out effectively the purpose and intent of the NPMA.

For example, in 1967 at the request of industry, the BC provincial government recommended that egg farmers conduct a plebiscite vote. Seventy-three percent of BC egg farmers voted in favour of establishing a marketing board, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands recommended to the Lieutenant Governor in Council to approve an Order in Council to establish the British Columbia Egg Marketing Scheme and create the BC Egg Marketing Board. The BC Egg Marketing Board became a legal entity through Order in Council No. 2263, on July 13, 1967.

 

How do you terminate a regulated marketing board and/or commission in British Columbia?

Under the NPMA, Section 22(3)(f) provides the Lieutenant Governor in Council with the authority to revoke the scheme of a marketing board or commission and undergo the disposition of marketing board assets if its appointment or authority is annulled under the NPMA. Similar to the establishment of a board, revoking requires the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to recommend an Order in Council to the Lieutenant Governor in Council to revoke the scheme that provided the marketing board or commission with the power to carry out the purpose and intent of the NPMA.