As you may be aware, the Ontario Sheep Farmers (“OSF”) Regulations have been the subject of a hearing before the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal (“Tribunal”).
By way of background, in 2017 OSF amended its General Regulations to provide that out-of-province producers were not required to hold producer licenses from OSF and were not required to pay license fees.
Since the regulatory amendment in 2017, processors have been required to pay license fees for any sheep purchased in cases where a producer license fee was not payable. This language can be found in Ontario Sheep General Regulation 6 (b). The requirement for Ontario producers to pay license fees remains unchanged and will continue in full force and effect.
The Tribunal has concluded that OSF should amend our Sheep General Regulations to provide further clarity that non-resident producers are not required to pay OSF license fees. Accordingly, OSF will work with Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission to amend the General Regulations as per the findings of the Tribunal to provide that clarity in due course.
Once amended, OSF will send further communications to our members and our sheep and wool marketing partners. The Tribunal has not required any other amendments to the Regulations and no Regulations have been revoked. All other relief sought by the parties that brought the matter to the Tribunal was dismissed.
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