Local food includes local meat

New Democrats are introducing a bill in the legislature today which, if passed, could mean meat from local farmers can be purchased directly by customers.

The new bill amends the Food Safety Act, which will change the current rules that all meat offered for sale must be processed at centralized facilities, a burden for some small producers.

“Forcing farmers to ship their animals hundreds of miles for processing not only makes local meat unaffordable, it also puts undue stress on the animals and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions,” said Lana Popham, New Democrat agriculture critic, calling it a "common-sense bill".

“Even as increasing numbers of British Columbians are looking for local food choices, the centuries-old tradition of the family farm is at risk,” said New Democrat MLA Nicholas Simons, who introduced the bill.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/interior-news/news/72894677.html