British Columbia residents can now order wine from vintners in other Canadian provinces and have it shipped to them for personal use.
In a July 12 news release, B.C. liquor minister Rich Coleman said his province is taking the lead in opening provincial borders to wine sales within Canada and he encouraged other provinces to follow suit.
B.C. residents must place their wine orders with recognized wineries that produce 100 percent Canadian wine from products grown and made in the province from which it is shipped.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
Shipments will be exempt from provincial price markups, said the news release. There is no limit on the amount that can be ordered, so long as it is for personal consumption.
The new rules were praised by Josie Tyabji, chair of the B.C. Wine Institute.
“The B.C. Wine Institute is grateful the B.C. government is supporting consumers and the wine industry by taking a leadership role and taking steps towards improving the sale of local agricultural products across Canada,” she said.
Tyabji added that the change will benefit smaller wineries that do not always have products available outside their immediate area.
Coleman called it an important step toward a more open marketplace for the B.C. wine industry.
