CFIA repeals Central Saanich crop rules

Summary#

These final regulations from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) remove several older CFIA rules that are either expired or no longer needed. The changes mostly lift long‑standing limits on growing and moving certain crops in the Municipality of Central Saanich, B.C., and repeal a few time‑limited compensation rules. The regulations came into force on November 21, 2025.

What it does#

• Repeals parts of the Agriculture and Agri‑Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations (Divisions 2 and 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 1).
• Repeals these Governor in Council regulations:
  • Potato Production and Sale (Central Saanich) Restriction Regulations
  • Eggplants and Tomatoes Production (Central Saanich) Restriction Regulations
  • Asian Long‑horned Beetle Compensation Regulations
  • Plum Pox Virus Compensation Regulations, 2004
• Notes that the Golden Nematode Order and one ministerial compensation regulation (for birds destroyed during an avian influenza control area) will be repealed by the Minister (these are ministerial instruments rather than Governor in Council regulations).
• Removes federal movement/production restrictions that covered most of Central Saanich, while keeping targeted measures where risk remains under the Plant Protection Regulations (PPR).
• Leaves in place CFIA tools for surveillance and targeted written notices to limit movement from any small areas still at risk.

Who's affected#

• Landowners and farmers in the Municipality of Central Saanich, British Columbia — especially potato, tomato and eggplant growers. About 159 businesses operate there under the old rules; 157 (about 99%) are small businesses.
• Small businesses in the area, who are expected to see paperwork and inspection needs fall (estimated average savings of $86 per business annually; total present‑value savings of about $95,207 over 10 years in 2025 dollars).
• Producers or owners who might previously have applied for compensation under the time‑limited compensation rules—those application windows have already expired, so repealing those rules has no practical effect now.
• The CFIA, which will reduce some inspection and administrative activities.
• The W̱SÁNEĆ Nation and the local municipality were notified; the repeal is not reported to change treaty obligations according to the CFIA’s assessment.

If it matters to you: the item is specific to Central Saanich and to the particular pests and time‑limited compensation programs listed. If you are outside those groups, the changes are unlikely to affect you.

Why it matters#

• For most land in Central Saanich — 98.75% — federal restrictions tied to the golden nematode will be removed, making it easier to grow, move or sell certain crops and reducing delays from inspections and approvals.
• A small portion of land — 1.25% — will remain subject to restrictions, but those limits will be handled through targeted notices under the PPR rather than by the old blanket regulations.
• The change cleans up outdated rules and aims to reduce red tape and confusion. The CFIA says the risk of pest spread can still be managed with existing tools and ongoing surveillance.
• The repeal also removes time‑expired compensation regulations that no longer serve any practical purpose. Overall administrative savings are small (estimated $200 per year in 2012 dollars under the one‑for‑one accounting rule), but local growers will see modest reductions in compliance work.