Coming up

Coming up: rule changes for BC farms

What is about to change for farms that sell food on Vancouver Island: meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, produce and selling at markets. 10 changes have a date set, and 8 are proposals that may or may not go ahead. Each links to the document it comes from.

Only what’s coming

Once a change takes effect it leaves these pages, and the guide’s own answer carries it. A proposal is marked “Proposed — may not happen” until the government, board or council decides.

BC votes on 24 October 2026

The legislature is dissolved for the October 24, 2026 provincial election, and WorkSafeBC has paused its open consultations until after it. Provincial proposals below may change or lapse; changes already set in law keep their dates. Elections BC

18 changes

  1. Takes effect 31 December 2026BC Ministry of Labour

    Minimum piece rates for hand harvesting go up

    Farms paying pickers by the piece for berries, apples, pears, cherries, beans, peas and the other listed crops.

    Now
    The 2026 minimum piece rates.
    After
    Every minimum piece rate rises by just over 2.1%.

    What to do: Update what you pay per piece from December 31.

    In this guide:Farms & market gardens

    Source
  2. Takes effect 1 January 2027WorkSafeBC

    WorkSafeBC premium rates for 2027

    Every farm or food business with employees.

    Now
    The 2026 base rate for your industry.
    After
    The average base rate stays at $1.55 per $100 of payroll, but it moves by industry: 48% of employers see their industry’s rate rise and 30% see it fall. “Restaurant or Other Dining Establishment” is among the rates going up; vegetable farming and farm labour supply are among those going down. The published 2027 rates are preliminary.

    What to do: Look up your industry’s 2027 rate before you budget next year’s payroll.

    In this guide:WorkSafeBC coverage

    Source
  3. Takes effect 1 January 2027Canada Employment Insurance Commission

    Employment insurance premiums for 2027

    Every employer.

    Now
    The 2026 rates, on insurable earnings up to $68,900.
    After
    $1.64 per $100 of insurable earnings for employees and $2.30 for employers, on earnings up to $70,800.
    Source
  4. Takes effect 1 January 2027Government of Canada

    Base CPP contribution rate cut

    Every employer and employee.

    Now
    The base CPP rate is 4.95% each for the employee and the employer.
    After
    4.75% each (9.5% combined). The cut is law, but still needs a federal cabinet order to take effect, and the CRA hasn’t published 2027 figures.
    Source
  5. Takes effect 4 January 2027WorkSafeBC

    New WorkSafeBC rules for combustible dust

    Employers whose work makes or uses dust that could burn. WorkSafeBC names bakeries (flour and sugar) as a typical case; a farm that mills grain or stores dry product in bulk bins may be one too.

    Now
    No rules written specifically for combustible dust.
    After
    A written assessment of the dust risk, a dust management program and worker training. Workplaces with no reasonably foreseeable risk from burning dust are exempt, and so is dust sealed in commercial packages.

    What to do: If you bake at volume, mill, grind or store dry product in bulk, read the new rules and decide whether they apply to you.

    In this guide:WorkSafeBC coverageBakeries

    Source
  6. Takes effect 1 June 2027Province of British Columbia

    BC minimum wage rises

    Every employer.

    Now
    $18.25 an hour.
    After
    A higher rate set by BC’s 2026 inflation, as the law requires every June 1. The new amount hasn’t been announced.
    Source
  7. Takes effect 1 September 2027WorkSafeBC

    Recertifying orchard work platforms needs an engineer

    Orchards using elevating work platforms no higher than 3.6 m.

    Now
    A qualified person may certify and recertify these platforms.
    After
    A qualified person may still certify them, but recertifying one after it has been modified, has failed or has been damaged must be done by a professional engineer.
    Source
  8. Takes effect 1 July 2028Province of British Columbia

    PVC film wrap is restricted

    Restaurants, caterers and food trucks packing takeout or delivery in PVC cling film, and anyone selling food wrapped in it.

    Now
    PVC film wrap is exempt from BC’s single-use plastics rules.
    After
    The exemption ends: takeout and delivery food can’t be handed out in PVC film, food can’t be sold wrapped in it, and businesses can’t sell PVC film wrap in BC.

    What to do: Plan the switch to another wrap before then.

    In this guide:Bags, takeout containers and utensils

    Source
  9. Takes effect 1 January 2030Canadian Food Inspection Agency

    New names for milk ingredients on labels

    Anyone selling packaged food whose ingredient list names “milk ingredients” or “modified milk ingredients”.

    Now
    Either the old wording or the new one may be used.
    After
    “Modified milk ingredients” becomes “milk-derived ingredients”, with revised rules on which ingredients each name covers. The old wording is no longer allowed.

    What to do: Change the wording the next time you reprint labels.

    In this guide:Federal food labelsPackaged food makers

    Source
  10. Takes effect 1 July 2030Province of British Columbia

    Foam trays for raw meat, poultry and fish are restricted

    Anyone packing raw meat, poultry or fish on polystyrene foam trays.

    Now
    Foam meat trays may be used.
    After
    Polystyrene foam trays for raw meat, poultry and fish are restricted under BC’s single-use plastics rules.

    What to do: Plan the switch to another tray or to vacuum packing before then.

    In this guide:Bags, takeout containers and utensilsMeat, poultry & egg producers

    Source
  11. Proposed — may not happenBC Centre for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health

    A new guideline for selling at farmers’ markets

    Everyone selling at farmers’ markets, and market managers.

    Where it stands: Comments are closed. The province intends to publish the final guideline, with a summary of responses, in fall 2026.

    Now
    Markets follow the guideline revised in August 2020.
    If it goes ahead
    Revised lists of lower- and higher-risk foods, new rules for home-made food, and more paperwork for vendors, such as written food safety plans and labels.

    What to do: Nothing yet. Each food’s page in this guide shows what the draft would change.

    In this guide:Letter of Confirmation for higher-risk food at marketsThe “not inspected” sign at your market tableFarmers’ market vendorsFarms & market gardensHome-based food makers

    Source
  12. Proposed — may not happenCanadian Food Inspection Agency

    Selling provincially slaughtered red meat to other provinces

    Farms and abattoirs selling red meat.

    Where it stands: Published in Canada Gazette Part I on June 27, 2026; comments closed August 26, 2026. BC hasn’t said whether it would take part.

    Now
    Meat sold into another province must come from a federally licensed plant, and there is none on the Island.
    If it goes ahead
    For four years, low volumes of raw, single-ingredient red meat from provincially licensed plants could cross into another province, where both provinces agree to oversee it. Whether Farmgate or Farmgate Plus meat would count isn’t said.

    In this guide:Slaughter licence: Abattoir, Farmgate Plus or FarmgateFarmgate & Farmgate Plus licenceMeat, poultry & egg producers

    Source
  13. Proposed — may not happenCanadian Food Inspection Agency

    ID tags and reporting for goats and farmed deer

    Goat, deer, sheep and pig farms, abattoirs and livestock transporters.

    Where it stands: The CFIA announced a revised approach on June 2, 2026 and will set a new timeline for the final regulation.

    Now
    Federal ID rules cover cattle, bison, sheep and pigs only.
    If it goes ahead
    Goats and farmed deer would need ID tags and reports of slaughter, disposal, import and export; sheep would add slaughter and export reports; abattoirs would report within 7 days instead of 30; and farms could give their provincial Premises ID instead of personal contact details. Movement reporting for cattle and bison is not going ahead for now.

    In this guide:Livestock ID tags and movement reportingPremises ID registration

    Source
  14. Proposed — may not happenCanadian Food Inspection Agency

    Higher compensation for destroyed laying hens and broiler breeders

    Egg and broiler-breeder farms whose birds are ordered destroyed, for example in an avian flu outbreak.

    Where it stands: Depends on a market analysis. If changes are needed, the CFIA expects to publish them in fall 2026.

    Now
    Compensation is capped at set maximum amounts per bird.
    If it goes ahead
    The maximums could be raised to reflect market value.

    In this guide:Egg flock permit

    Source
  15. Proposed — may not happenCanadian Food Inspection Agency

    More uses for lower-risk specified risk material

    Abattoirs slaughtering cattle, and the farms that pay for their disposal costs.

    Where it stands: Published in Canada Gazette Part I on July 11, 2026; comments closed September 9, 2026.

    Now
    Specified risk material removed from cattle can’t go into animal feed, fertilizer or pet food.
    If it goes ahead
    A lower-risk part of it could go into feed for animals other than cattle and other ruminants, fertilizer and pet food; it would stay banned from food and from ruminant feed. The CFIA says this will make it easier for cattle processors to compete.

    In this guide:Slaughter licence: Abattoir, Farmgate Plus or Farmgate

    Source
  16. Proposed — may not happenBC Ministry of Agriculture and Food

    Food processing plants on poorer ALR land

    Food processors and value-added makers on ALR land.

    Where it stands: Feedback closed September 18, 2026. No decision has been published.

    Now
    Processing on ALR land without the Commission’s approval needs at least half of what is processed to come from that farm or its co-op.
    If it goes ahead
    New processing plants could be built on poorer farmland (soil classes 5 to 7, and serviced class 4) as long as 5% of what they process is grown or raised in BC. The half-your-own rule would stay everywhere else.

    In this guide:Farm store rules on Agricultural Land Reserve landFarm stands, u-pick & agritourism

    Source
  17. Proposed — may not happenBC Vegetable Marketing Commission

    More vegetable marketing rules: organic, food safety, penalties

    Island growers of regulated storage crops above about a ton a year. Small-scale growers are outside most of the Commission’s rules.

    Where it stands: The Commission planned targeted consultation in early 2026 and recommendations by June 2026. No outcome has been published.

    Now
    The General Order of February 2026 applies.
    If it goes ahead
    Further rules on organic production and marketing, food safety and biosecurity, and penalties.

    In this guide:BC Vegetable Marketing Commission licenceQuota & flock limits

    Source
  18. Proposed — may not happenWorkSafeBC

    Psychological health and safety, and harassment and violence rules

    Every employer.

    Where it stands: Consultation paused for the provincial election; it had been due to close November 6, 2026.

    Now
    The workplace safety regulation doesn’t address psychological hazards, and treats violence from customers separately from conflict between workers.
    If it goes ahead
    Employers would identify psychological hazards and reduce the risk to the lowest level practicable, and the violence rules would cover the whole range of inappropriate behaviour — from customers as well as co-workers.

    In this guide:WorkSafeBC coverage

    Source

Last checked 26 September 2026. We check this guide regularly against Island Health, provincial and municipal sources, but regulations and laws change often and we can’t guarantee it is complete or current. Confirm with Island Health and your municipality before you apply, build or sell.

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