Government sources

Alberta Agriculture

Health Canada—Veterinary Drugs

Health Canada is responsible for protecting human and animal health and the safety of Canada's food supply. Through the Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD), Health Canada evaluates and monitors the safety, quality and effectiveness, sets standards and promotes the prudent use of veterinary drugs administered to food-producing and companion animals.

Natural Resources Conservation Board

The NRCB is a regulatory agency of the Government of Alberta. It reviews proposals for projects that affect Alberta's non-energy natural resources, and regulates Alberta's confined feeding operations. The NRCB provides an objective decision-making process that takes into account the social, economic and environmental implications of each proposal.

Agriculture Operations Practices Act (AOPA)

  • Confined Feeding Operations
    All new or existing confined feeding operations or manure storage facilities in Alberta are required to make an application for approval, registration, or authorization to the Natural Resources Conservation Board before beginning any construction or expansion.
  • Applications
    The Natural Resources Conservation Board issues three kinds of permits. The type of permit depends on the nature of the activity and the number of animals, animal species and changes in the number of animals.
    • Registrations are permits for smaller operations
    • Approvals are permits for larger operations
    • Authorizations are permits for manure storage facilities
  • Board Decisions
    View a board decision following a review
  • Enforcement Orders
    Natural Resources Conservation Board inspectors inspect board-approved operations and operations that received municipal permits before the Agricultural Operation Practices Act came into effect, to ensure compliance with the Act, the regulations and individual permit conditions. They work closely with regional health authorities, municipalities, Alberta Environment and other regulatory bodies to investigate potential risks to the environment and ensure that all relevant legislation is being complied with. An NRCB inspector also responds to complaints and inquires from the public or other agencies and assesses operations for compliance with the Act at the request of owners who plan to sell or apply for financing.
  • Court Decisions
    Decisions under the Agricultural Operation Practices Act can only be appealed to the Alberta Court of Appeal on questions of law or jurisdiction. The Court must first grant leave to appeal. Judicial reviews of matters related to NRCB enforcement actions take place in the Court of Queen's Bench.

The Farmers' Advocate

The Farmers' Advocate is an individual, with an agricultural background and farming experience, appointed by the Provincial Government to deal with problems and concerns of farmers.

MLA Contacts

A complete listing of Legislative contacts.

Manure Net

ManureNet is a national information resource and coordination centre for the Manure /Nutrient Management Issue on behalf of the Expert Committee on Manure Management (ECMM), and Canadian Agri-Food Research Council (CARC).