A Licence to Operate a Ferment on Premises Facility allows a licensee to provide a facility where equipment for making wine and/or beer “on the premises” is available for customers to make their own wine and/or beer for personal use.
It is essential that the product be for “personal use”. Ferment on premises (FOP) facilities cannot offer for sale, keep for sale, produce for sale or sell wine and/or beer. In addition, the regulations do not allow the exchange or giving of liquor on the premises.
The LLCA, its regulations and the Registrar’s Interim Standards and Requirements for Liquor (Interim Standards) set out the specific roles and responsibilities that must be exercised by a licensee (and their employees or agents) as part of the overall process, as well as the steps that a customer must take to produce the wine and/or beer.
You can apply for and manage any AGCO licence, endorsement or permit, including those described in this guide, online, through the iAGCO portal.
Apply for a new licence if:
A transfer will not be approved if the current licensee has an outstanding monetary penalty or if the recipient of the transfer would not be eligible to be issued a licence.
A licensee may contract out the operation of the business to another person who is applying to receive the transfer of the licence if regulatory requirements are met. The licensee remains liable under the licence during the period for which the operation of the business has been contracted out.
The ability to contract out the operation of the business expires, on the issuance of the transfer of the licence; or on the issuance of a notice of proposal to refuse the transfer.
The Registrar may transfer a licence to operate a ferment on premises facility for a period of not more than one year, when:
A mortgagee, franchisor, landlord, or executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased licensee takes possession of the licensed premises
It is the responsibility of the holder of a Licence to Operate a Ferment on Premises Facility to ensure that this licence remains valid. If a renewal application and applicable fee is not received by the AGCO on or before the licence’s expiry date, the licence will expire and the operator can no longer lawfully operate the ferment on premises facility.
A Licence to Operate a Ferment on Premises Facility renewal application will NOT be accepted if the licence holder owes money to the Ministry of Finance (Retail Sales Tax). It is the licensee’s responsibility to contact the Ministry of Finance to determine if money is owed. (Key Liquor Industry Contacts)
You are prohibited under section 2(1) of the LLCA, from operating a ferment on premises facility except under the authority of a licence.