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British Columbia's graduated licensing system offers several different types of licences in order to meet the diverse needs of livestock producers, retailers and consumers across the province, especially those in rural and remote areas.
The following diagram and table compare the various types of licences available under the graduated licensing system. For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions.
| Comparison of New and Existing Licences available under the Graduated Licensing System | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licence Type | Licensing Status | Activities Permitted | Sales Permitted | Geographic Scope | Number of Animal Units** | Oversight |
| Federal Licence | Current and continuing | Slaughter, and cut and wrap | Retail and direct to consumer | B.C. and out of province | Unlimited | Pre- and post-slaughter inspection of each animal |
| Class A | Current and continuing | Slaughter, and cut and wrap | Retail and direct to consumer | B.C. | Unlimited | Pre- and post-slaughter inspection of each animal |
| Class B | Current and continuing | Slaughter only | Retail and direct to consumer | B.C. | Unlimited | Pre- and post-slaughter inspection of each animal |
| Class D | New | Slaughter only (own animals and other peoples' animals) | Retail and direct to consumer | Sales restricted within the regional district where meat is produced | 1 - 25 | Periodic site assessments and audit of operational slaughter records |
| Class E | New | Slaughter only (own animals only) | Direct to consumer only | Sales restricted within the regional district where meat is produced | 1 - 10 | Periodic site assessments and audit of operational slaughter records |
| Personal Use | No licence required | Slaughter only | None | For producer only | Unlimited | None |
**One animal unit means: combined weight, when measured alive, of 1000 lbs (454 kg) of meat (e.g., beef, poultry, bison, etc.)
For more information on the Class D and E license application process, please see: How Do I Apply for a D or E Licence? You can also contact your regional health authority for more information.
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