May–June 2024 Chicken Quotas

Summary#

The Regulations Amending the Canadian Chicken Marketing Quota Regulations replace the quota schedule and set how much chicken may be produced and marketed in Canada for the quota period A‑189: May 5, 2024 to June 29, 2024. The changes come into force on May 5, 2024 and give specific kilogram limits by province and by quota category.

What it does#

• Replaces the schedule in the Canadian Chicken Marketing Quota Regulations with new province-by-province limits for period A‑189.
• Sets three types of limits (all in live weight, kilograms):
  • Production subject to federal and provincial quotas (total across Canada: 287,810,338 kg).
  • Production subject to federal and provincial market development quotas (total: 7,367,395 kg).
  • Production subject to federal and provincial specialty chicken quotas (total: 2,163,274 kg).
• Gives each province a specific allocation. Examples:
  • Ontario: 99,108,769 kg (quota), 2,250,000 kg (market development), 911,948 kg (specialty).
  • Quebec: 75,464,407 kg (quota), 2,299,795 kg (market development).
  • British Columbia: 40,443,502 kg (quota), 1,382,600 kg (market development), 1,251,326 kg (specialty).
• These numbers apply only for the period beginning May 5, 2024 and ending June 29, 2024.

Who's affected#

• Chicken farmers and their provincial marketing boards, because these limits govern how much they can produce and sell under quota systems.
• Chicken Farmers of Canada, which administers the national marketing plan and worked on the allocations.
• Processors and packers who contract with quota holders may need to plan around these volumes.
• Consumers and retailers could be indirectly affected if supply changes, though the regulation itself only sets quotas.

Why it matters#

• These limits determine the legal supply of domestically produced chicken for a roughly eight‑week period. That affects planning for farms, processors, and distributors.
• The separate market development and specialty quotas support targeted production for new markets or niche products. Changes in those buckets can influence what types of chicken (e.g., specialty varieties) are available.
• For ordinary shoppers or restaurants, the rule matters because quota changes can influence supply availability and business planning, even if any effect on retail prices is not specified in the regulation.