Engagement on the Guideline for the Sale of Foods at Temporary Food Markets

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has drafted an update to the Guideline for the Sale of Foods at Temporary Food Markets (2026) (PDF, 1.01MB), which provides recommendations for the safe preparation and sale of food at temporary food markets across British Columbia. Temporary food markets are seasonal or time-limited markets, commonly referred to as farmers’ markets or community food markets. First developed in 1999, the guideline was previously revised in 2020.

Current revisions to the guidelines include:

• Clarifying the definition of “Home Prepared Food”.
• Adding guidance to distinguish between higher-risk and lower-risk foods.
• Reformatting and updating the appendices on lower-risk and higher-risk foods to improve organization, clarity, and usability.
• Expanding guidance on food vendor responsibilities, including requirements for supporting food safety documentation.

If you would like to provide comments on the revised guidelines, please email your input to: HP-PHW@gov.bc.ca by August 7, 2026.

A summary of responses and the final guideline are intended to be published in the fall of 2026.