The regulated marketing system in B.C. is part of a national framework. It operates under both federal and provincial legislation. The B.C. Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB) plays a key role in coordinating B.C.’s participation in this system.
The regulated marketing system
Some farm products in B.C. are regulated by federal and provincial laws. These rules cover how certain products are grown, sold, and priced.
There are eight regulated commodities in B.C.:
- Broiler hatching eggs
- Chicken
- Cranberries
- Cow milk
- Hogs
- Table eggs
- Turkey
- Vegetables
Each product has its own board or commission that manages how it’s produced and marketed.
How regulation works
B.C.’s regulated marketing system is legislated by government. It regulates how certain agricultural commodities are produced and marketed. It includes:
- Supply-managed sectors (like milk, eggs, and poultry)
- Non-supply-managed commodities (cranberries, hogs and vegetables)
The system is based on delegated authority. This means government gives regulatory powers to marketing boards and commissions to regulate specific commodities. These boards operate under both provincial and federal laws.
The system relies on coordination among:
- Federal and provincial governments
- Supervisory bodies like BCFIRB
- National marketing agencies
- Provincial regulated marketing boards and commissions
The B.C. Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB) oversees this system to help keep the market fair and stable.
Legal and regulatory framework
B.C.’s regulated marketing system operates within a broader national framework. It is grounded in a combination of legal instruments and agreements that define how it operates. These include:
- Sector-specific regulations and orders
- Federal and provincial legislation
- Federal-provincial-territorial agreements
These legal foundations shape how boards and commissions exercise their delegated authority and how national and provincial systems align.
Supply management
Supply management is a federal regulatory framework that ensures a stable and safe supply of commodities for consumers and ensures a fair return for producers through price, production, and import controls.
Designated agencies
In some sectors, only licensed businesses—called designated agencies—can process, pack, store or market regulated products. Designated agencies act on behalf of producers to handle and sell their products.
These sectors require marketing agencies to be licensed:
- Cranberries (B.C. Cranberry Marketing Commission)
- Vegetables (B.C. Vegetable Marketing Commission)
BCFIRB must approve all agency designations. Designations and licenses must be reviewed and renewed regularly.
If you want to become a designated agency, contact the relevant board or commission. They can help you:
- Understand the rules and process
- See which organizations are currently licensed
- Learn how to apply
Who’s involved in B.C.’s regulated marketing system
B.C.’s regulated marketing system includes multiple groups, each with a specific role in how agricultural products are produced, marketed, and managed. The sections below highlight some of the main types of participants to help you understand how the system works.
Federal and national regulators
These organizations oversee national supply management, interprovincial coordination, food safety, and trade policies.
Farm Products Council of Canada (FPCC)
- Oversees national supply management agencies
- Works under the federal Farm Products Agencies Act
- Approves federal marketing plans and ensures they serve both producer and consumer interests
- Resolves disputes and monitors compliance with national supply management principles
- Acts as a liaison between national agencies and the federal government
National marketing agencies
- Coordinate national supply, quota allocation, and interprovincial marketing of supply-managed products
- Work with provincial boards and commissions to align production and pricing decisions across Canada
- Manage import controls and contribute to international trade compliance
- Develop promotional campaigns and national branding strategies
Federal regulators
- For example:
- Oversee food safety, labeling standards, and agricultural trade policies
- Provide funding, research, and policy tools that intersect with provincial marketing programs
- Regulate border controls and import/export licensing for supply-managed goods
- Set standards that national marketing agencies must meet for compliance
Provincial regulators
Provincial regulators provide legal authority, supervision, and policy direction for regulated marketing in B.C.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
- Sets strategic direction and enables the legal framework for regulated marketing
- Liaises with other ministries and federal partners on marketing issues
- Appoints chairs of boards and commissions, and BCFIRB board members
- Ensures alignment of marketing regulations with provincial agricultural goals
B.C. Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB)
- Provides general supervision of the regulated marketing system
- Ensures boards and commissions operate transparently, fairly, and in the public interest
- Conducts supervisory reviews, hears appeals, and issues directions
- Approves board regulations, quota systems, and significant operational changes
- Engages with other provincial supervisory boards on governance practices, trends, and issues
- Supports boards and commissions at national and regional meetings
Marketing boards and commissions
- Regulate production, pricing, and marketing within their assigned commodity sector
- License producers, allocate quota, and set terms for production and sale
- Develop and enforce orders, regulations, and policies under BCFIRB supervision
- Consult with producers and other affected groups
Sector participants
Sector participants are individuals and organizations that produce, process, or market regulated agricultural products. They must follow the rules set by boards and commissions, such as licensing, reporting, and quota requirements.
Producers
- Grow or raise regulated products under license from a marketing board or commission
- Must comply with regulatory rules such as quota limits, quality standards, and reporting requirements
- Participate in board elections and consultations that guide sector rules
Processors and marketers
- Purchase, process, or distribute regulated products for sale to consumers or further processors
- Must follow applicable board rules when operating within the regulated system
- Collaborate with boards and commissions, producers, and agencies to coordinate market needs and supply
Designated agencies
- Approved by a board (and BCFIRB) to carry out specific regulated functions such as grading, packing, or marketing in certain sectors
- Operate under formal designation agreements and must follow board rules
Interest holders and collaborators
These parties influence, inform, or are affected by regulated marketing decisions.
Interprovincial commodity coordinating groups
- For example: National Association of Agri-Food Supervisory Agencies (NAASA)
- Facilitate collaboration among provincial boards, commissions, and national agencies on production, marketing, and quota matters
- Develop national production agreements and forecasting models
- Help balance supply and demand across provinces
- Ensure provincial decisions align with national marketing plans
Industry groups and associations
- Advocate for producer, processor, or sector-wide interests at provincial and national levels
- Provide research, training, and market analysis to improve sector performance
- Provide input during consultations, reviews, and policy development
- May challenge decisions or advocate for regulatory change
Retailers, consumers and the public
- Benefit from stable supply, fair pricing, and food system transparency
- Represent the “public interest” BCFIRB is required to consider in its oversight
- Participate indirectly through public consultation, media, or consumer advocacy groups