This is done by peer producers explaining the concerns and helping to find a solution to an individual producer's environmental problem. Education is the preferred first step before regulatory agencies force farmers to adopt corrective measures. The AES had its beginnings as the Poultry Sanitation Committee which was formed in the late 1960s. The AES program grew to handle complaints regarding the nuisance of improper waste handling on beef, dairy, hog, and poultry farms. Where the AES primarily handled nuisance complaints from the public, the AEPC responds to both pollution and nuisance concerns.
Concerns can come from both the public and government agencies.
All member commodity groups of the BCFA are invited to take part in the program. For this reason, the AEPC covers a broader cross section of agriculture. The aim of the AEPC is to set and maintain high environmental standards for participating commodities. The AEPC has representation from the BCFA, participating agricultural commodity groups, BC Environment, and the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The agricultural commodity groups volunteer to participate in the AEPC and its peer inspection program.