Updates are being made to the General Orders that affect Under-marketing, Over-marketing, and Disaster Flock policies. BC chicken growers will have tidier rules and be given stronger tolerances when disaster strikes.
Updates come into effect starting Quota Period A-206, which begins December 13, 2026.
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For the past several years, growers across the province have dealt with avian influenza, extreme weather, and chick shortages — challenges that remain stubborn. To support these challenges, the Board has frequently issued temporary measures that help to mitigate negative impacts and encourage growing chicken to meet our provincial allocation.
The Board recognizes the hard work growers are doing to keep British Columbian families supplied with high-quality, local chicken. The updates are meant to keep the industry ready for the new normal. Together, we must adapt.
Starting with Quota Period A-206, temporary adjustments will be replaced with more permanent adjustments (ie. sleeves) written into the General Orders.
Growers will know what flexibility they have, rather than pivot based on temporary measures that may be active or expired. It was always a bit extra to keep track of during especially busy times.
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Here’s a summary of those updates. Keep in mind, growers marketing 100% of their allotment each cycle — an essential to supply management and chicken growing — underscores all these changes.
Under-marketing: Managing Shortfalls
Starting in A-206, the under-marketing sleeve will be set at 4% for every grower. When a flock comes in short of a grower’s allotment, up to 4% of that shortfall carries forward six cycles. Carry-forwards exist because quota holders are ultimately expected to grow their quota, and so that expectation and opportunity “carries forward”.
(Carrying forward also grants growers time for things like recovering from the impacts of disease or disaster, planning for growth, leasing, and more.)
This is a reduction from the standard default of 6% in the General Orders and the 10% granted under current temporary measures. Remember, growing 100% of one’s allocation is the ideal each cycle; tightening the tolerance here reinforces that without pushing too much down the road.
Meanwhile, growers with larger losses should go through the expanded Disaster Flock process, so serious hardship is handled with appropriate support.
Over-marketing: More, Aligned Room for Growth
Starting in A-208 (April 4, 2027), growers can market up to 102% of their quota allotment without a clawback six cycles later.
While this is months away, we are taking a stepped approach. Recent temporary measures were extended for A-204 and A-205 allowing market up to 104% marketing of quota allotment. For A-206 and A-207 temporary measures allow marketing up to 103%. These measures were a direct attempt to meet allocation after having fallen short provincially for several periods.
| Quota Period | Marketing Allowed (of grower’s quota allotment) |
Status |
| A-204 and A-205 | Up to 104% | Temporary measures |
| A-206 and A-207 | Up to 103% | Temporary measures |
| A-208 onward | Up to 102% | Permanent (General Orders) |
This update also puts BC’s policy in line with the national rules set by Chicken Farmers of Canada — so, we’re all tracking the same limits.
By A-208, this update embeds a bit of flexibility. So, when some growers struggle with a bumpy flock and with a smaller than expected shipment or are short of growing their allotment, other growers may have a bumper flock where they shipped excess and exceeded their allotment. By giving allowance for bumper flocks, the bumpy flocks — a common occurrence these past years — is offset and balanced. BC can better meet its allocation and satisfy consumer demand.
Disaster Flock: A Wider Net
Starting in A-206, when disease or disaster hits a farm, the disaster flock designation can now be applied to up to 15% of lost production. This is an increase from the standard default of 6% in the General Orders and the 10% granted under current temporary measures, as previously mentioned. Growers who meet the requirements can apply to later grow a larger share of what they lost. That support goes to the farms hit hardest, when they need it most.
Disaster Flock designation is most often a result of disease in a flock. With this wider net, and the requirements for this designation, the Board hopes it will capture more accurate information about the challenges growers are facing.
A Disaster Flock Checklist can be found here.
With these allowances set firmly, the Board expects to rely far less on temporary measures affecting placements, marketings, and disaster management. Growers can plan with more confidence.
An official memo with the amended General Orders, covering Parts 26, 27, and 31, will be published later this month.
Confused by all the numbers? The team at the BCCMB office is here to help – it’s our job to understand and help see these policies through. Contact us for help.