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Farm Industry Review Board

• Mandate
• Board Members
• Activity Plan (5.2 MB)

The Farm Industry Review Board (FIRB) is charged with the responsibility for carrying out the duties and responsibilities that were previously conferred on the Agriculture Products Marketing Board under the Natural Products Marketing Act and the Farm Practices Review Board under the Farm Practices Protection Act.

FIRB’s responsibility under the Natural Products Marketing Act is to serve as a supervisory board with the power and authority under the Act to control and direct the operations of the provincial commodity boards including Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador , Egg Producers of Newfoundland and Labrador , and the Newfoundland and Labrador Chicken Marketing Board.

FIRB’s responsibility under the Farm Practices Protection Act. is to provide farmers, who operate in an acceptable manner, with protection against nuisance suits. Under the Act, FIRB is empowered to review agriculture related nuisance cases and determine if a farm is operating according to acceptable farm practices.

Reporting directly to the Minister of Natural Resources, FIRB is a seven person board with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Its endeavours are supported by a full-time manager. The FIRB operates from the Provincial Agriculture Building, Brookfield Road, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Mandate

The Newfoundland and Labrador Farm Industry Review Board is an administrative tribunal – a statutory appeal body with additional responsibilities for the general supervision of the marketing boards operating in the agriculture sectors.

The mandate of the FIRB is set out in 2 statues:

• The Natural Products Marketing Act ( the NPMA); and
• The Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act (the FPPA).

Under the NPMA:

• The FIRB is responsible for general supervision of the operations of commodity boards created under that Act; hearing appeals filed by any person who is aggrieved by or dissatisfied with orders, decisions or determination of the commodity boards; and acting as a signatory to federal provincial agreements for supply-managed commodities.

Under the FPPA:

• The FIRB is responsible for hearing complaints from persons aggrieved by odour, noise, dust or other disturbances arriving from agriculture operations, and may also study and report generally on farm practices.
• The FIRB is accountable to Government for its administrative operations, but is independent of Government in its decision-making. As an independent tribunal, the FIRB ensures that the public interest is served and protected.

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Board Members

The Farm Industry Review Board (FIRB) consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and five other members representing various regions of the Province. Members are appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council for alternating terms and are eligible for reappointment. The FIRB is supported by a full-time manager who is located on the Avalon region.

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