Temporary food permits and markets

The guidelines are available at your local health unit, from your Temporary Food Market organizer, or at the BC Association of Farmers Market website. Application to participate in your local market is completed through the Market Manager for each market location.

You should speak with your market manager and the local EHO and fill out an application for a Food Premises Permit - fees may apply depending on how often you plan to attend the market. This will allow you to prepare your food in a permitted kitchen and sell it to the public.

High risk foods need some special care and consideration. Depending on the type of food product, proper heating, cooling and refrigeration protocols must be followed. Home kitchens may lack the necessary equipment and space for these procedures.

Foods with a low (acidic) pH and a limited amount of moisture (Water Activity or ‘Aw’) will prevent the growth and development of food-borne pathogens (like botulism or salmonella). In order to make sure the food you are selling has a low enough pH and/or Aw, the Market Manager or the local EHO may request you have this food tested.

Canned products are among the most commonly tested for pH, particularly if less acidic foods. This is important because the botulism grows well in canned products with no oxygen. The pH of the food should be 4.6 or lower to prevent this deadly botulism toxin from accumulating.

(Pickles are a good example of food that should be tested for pH levels. In one recent case, pickles with a pH level of more than 4.6 were discovered at a local market; because the testing process was followed, they were removed from the market before any potential exposure to botulism could occur.)

Most cases of foodborne illness go unreported because the ill person usually does not see a doctor, report it to the EHO, or submit a stool specimen.

For every one case that is reported, it is predicted that anywhere from ten to one hundred cases go unreported. Health Canada also estimates that every year 11 to 13 million Canadians become ill with foodborne illness.

An outbreak in 2007 in Prince George is a prime example of how under-reported food borne illnesses are – EHOs followed up with about 70 people who had fallen ill, but only five of them saw a doctor about it.

Yes. We are aware of a few major outbreaks from foods distributed at Temporary Food Markets, including a case where 13 people became ill with E. coli after consuming unpasteurized Gouda cheese from an Edmonton Temporary Food Market in 2003. 

In 1994, 82 cases of Salmonella were traced back to unpasteurized soft cheese from a Temporary Food Market in Ontario. And in 2000, eight became ill with E. coli after eating fruit samples handed out at a Temporary Food Market in Colorado.

These private events are restricted to a family, or members of an organization or club and their invited guests. Some of the main differences are that generally:

• These events are smaller functions
• People know each other
• They are short in duration
• People assume the food is home-made and not subject to the requirements of permitted food establishments

No. These guidelines were developed by BCCDC and the Health Authorities in cooperation with the BC Association of Temporary Food Markets. The guidelines have been implemented across the province and are followed by all Temporary Food Markets that belong to the BC Association of Farmers Markets.

A certain amount of paperwork is necessary to complete the application process and your market manager will assist you with the application.

The local EHO will be available to the Market Managers should they have any questions about the relative risk of your product the proposed recipes and processes, labeling, and, when necessary, assist in delivering samples to an accredited lab.

The lab will notify you of the sample test results and whether they meet the necessary standards. If you have any questions or concerns, the EHO is here to work with you to determine the safest way to prepare your foods.

Yes, but make sure to discuss this with the Market manager first to ensure it is done safely and meets the Market's standards.

Every year, BC residents have fled to the dockside and roadside vendors to purchase fresh fish directly from the fisher. While fresh salmon is a good source of nutrition, it can also carry harmful bacteria that may cause food poisoning. As fresh fish is sold “in the round”, meaning the whole fish without the head or guts removed, it is important you know the extra safety tips for buying and handling fish from dockside and roadside stands. 

We are most familiar with cleaned and gutted fish from the supermarkets. Fish "in the round", tend to spoil more quickly and represent an increased risk of food poisoning. It is important to keep the fish cold during transportation and storage and to remove the guts as soon as possible. Follow these safety tips when buying, transporting, handling and preparing fresh fish “in the round”

Look at the set up of the roadside stand when purchasing fresh fish.

• The fish should be stored in either:
  • a plastic tote with the fish covered in ice and protected with a lid, or
  • a mechanically refrigerated cooler.
• There should be no animals at the stand.
• Vendors must have a DFO Fish Harvesting License and either a valid provincial Fish Buying License or a Fish Vending License. Copies of these should be on site.
• The vendor should provide a receipt for your purchase upon request.

Look for visual clues that indicate possible spoilage or mishandling of fish. Fresh fish

• Have scales
• Have bright eye colour (not cloudy)
• Do not smell of ammonia or smell “off"

Purchase whole fish where the vendor can confirm that was caught within the past 24hrs. Vendors are not permitted to gut the fish at a roadside stand.

The vendor should place your fish into a clear food grade plastic bag. The vendor should include a label on the bag that includes the:

• Contact information of the vendor
• Species of fish
• Date of harvest

Fish must be kept cool and preferably kept on ice until you get home.

Fish must be cleaned as soon as possible, preferably upon arriving home.

1. Using a sharp knife, insert the blade into the anus of the fish.
2. Pull the blade through the belly of the fish and upwards to the gills
3. Remove all the internal organs, using the dull part of the knife to scrape away guts from the spine.
4. Rinse the inside and outside of the fish under clean water.
5. Remove the head by cutting along the gill flaps on both sides of the fish.
6. Fins and tail can be cut off if needed.
7. Discard the fish guts into the garbage, or other in some other acceptable manner immediately. 

Fish should be kept refrigerated until ready to cook. Fish should be frozen if you do not plan to cook it within a day of purchase. 

Before cooking, wash the fish thoroughly. Cook fish to a minimum internal temperature of 70°C (158°F); cook stuffed fish to 74°C (165°F). Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature. 

Guide: cook 10 minutes for each inch thickness (fish should appear opaque and be firm to touch when cooked). Due to the extremely low freezing temperatures required for parasite destruction, it is not recommended that consumers attempt to use salmon purchased from roadside vendors for sushi preparation.

Bake Sales are popular fundraisers that allow the public to enjoy homemade baked goods while supporting local organizations and groups. While the low risk foods sold at bake sales are rarely associated with causing foodborne illness, it is important to remember that under the right circumstances any food can cause foodborne illness.

Protecting your foods

Foods prepared for bake sales are called ‘Ready to Eat’ foods - that means they will be eaten as they are, and not cooked or processed further. If the food becomes contaminated, there is no further ‘kill step’ to destroy any pathogens on the food. It is important to protect your foods from contamination by:

• Washing your hands often. If you have cuts or wounds on your hands, ensure they are completely covered with gloves or waterproof dressings.
• Prepare your foods on clean surfaces. Make sure counters, cutting boards, cutting knives, etc. are washed and sanitized before use (e.g. mix 1 tsp bleach per litre of water to make a sanitizing solution).
• Ensure your foods are prepared and stored separate from any raw meat products, chemical/cleaning products, or other sources of contamination.
• Wrap your foods with clean food packaging after they have been prepared to protect them from contamination during storage, transport and sale.
• Label your foods with the product name, your name and have ingredient lists available to refer to (useful for those with food allergies).
• Avoid preparing and handling foods if you are experiencing, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or a respiratory infection, or if you have had such symptoms in the past 48 hours.

Recent amendments to the Meat Inspection Regulation have brought in new types of Slaughter Licenses to permit small scale farmers to sell the meat from their farm to the public.

All animal meat slaughter for public sales (beef, poultry, swine, sheep, goats, etc.) must be from a licensed slaughter establishment. For more information on the full meat inspection program, visit the Ministry of Health Services, Meat Inspection Graduated Licensing.

Classes of slaughter licences available within Northern Health - Class D and Class E:

For more information, contact us at:

Prince George: 250-565-2150
Fort St. John: 250-263-6000
Smithers: 250-847-6400

Need more info?

• General Meat Inspection information
• Apply for a Class D or E Licence. All clients applying for Class E License must first complete a feasibility study and forward to the Provincial Coordinator for review of eligibility.
• Information for Provincially Licensed Slaughter Establishments
• Contact your Regional District for zoning information

Additional resources

• BC Centre for Disease Control - Food protection services, meat program
• BC Ministry of Environment - Code of practice
• BC Ministry of Healthy Services - Meat inspection
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Food safety for industry
• Ownership Identification Inc. - Brand registration and inspection