Determine Your Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for a manufacturer’s licence if you are:
- at least 19 years old, and
- a resident of British Columbia, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada (if you are applying as a corporation, and none of your shareholders live in B.C., you must appoint a resident manager).
You, your resident manager (if you have one) and any shareholders or partners, will also need to consent to a criminal record search. Having a criminal record does not automatically mean that we will turn down your application. We will look carefully at the circumstances of your case and how they relate to the responsibilities that go with holding a manufacturer's licence. See Submitting your Manufacturer’s licence application for more information.
If you have held a liquor licence before, we will also look at your history as a liquor licensee. A poor history as a licensee may make it more difficult for you to qualify for a manufacturer’s licence.
In addition:
- you must not be associated, directly or indirectly, with a UBrew/UVin or any establishment holding a liquor licence - a bar or restaurant, for example - other than one operated in combination with, and on the same site as, your winery, brewery or distillery, and
- you must be both the owner of the business and have a "valid interest" in the winery, brewery or distillery (i.e., you own, have a lease, or have an offer to own or lease, the property and facilities that will not expire for at least 12 months from the date we issue your licence).
If you are planning to open a winery, you must also have equipment and facilities adequate for producing at least 4,500 litres of wine per year. This includes fermentation tanks or barrels, filtering equipment and a secure storage area.
A note for brewers, distillers and vintners
If you are applying to open a brewery, distillery, or winery, you will need a Federal Excise Tax licence and tax number (in the same name as the one you supply on your liquor licence application). We recommend you apply for this licence early to avoid unnecessary delays. Please see the Canada Revenue Agency web site for more information.
Manufacturers who want to market and promote their products off-site may do so, but must also have an agent's licence. Please see our section on the Agent's Licence for more information.
