Authority to inspect dairy processing plants located in BC is granted under the BC Milk Industry Act and delegated by the Minister of Agriculture.
For provincially licensed dairy processing plants, BCCDC Environmental Health Services – Food Protection Services exercises delegated authority and operates an outcome and risk based inspection system.
This system relies on the knowledge and expertise of Food Safety Specialists who conduct on-site visits at every provincially licensed dairy processing plant to identify potentially high risk processes/situations and assess sanitary conditions.
Additionally, all provincially licensed dairy processing plants are required to submit monthly finished product samples to an independent laboratory for rigorous microbiological and chemical testing to ensure that relevant dairy product standards are met.
Inspection Follow-Up
If a finished product does not meet its relevant dairy product standard, follow up action by the BCCDC is initiated and, depending on the case, can range from ordering a plant cleanup and follow-up inspection through to suspension of the dairy processing plant’s license to operate.
The inspection of federally licensed dairy plants has been primarily delegated to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Dairy Worker Licence
All dairies are required to have licenced dairy plant workers (application and renewal form).
Guidelines and Information for Dairy Operators
We also develop and provide educational materials to dairy plant operators with regard to dairy product safety and develop product safety programs such as the HACCP system.
Dairy Outbreaks
The information on these pages represent the work we do on behalf of the public, industry and government. Some of this information was written for the general public and some was written in technical language for public health.
Contact us:
Food Protection Services phone 604-707-2440
NCC Environmental Health phone 604-707-2445
Poison Control Centre phone 604-682-5050 or 1-800-567-8911
