LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The CNGA Board of Directors has provided a letter of support to the Colorado Legislature as they consider the updates to the Nursery Act. The Nursery Act has not had considerable updates since the 1970’s. The changes that are included will help to bring the act up to date with our current economic and industry environment.
To ensure that the changes were appropriate for our members and beneficial to the industry the Colorado Department of Agriculture worked closely with a CNGA member committee last Fall. The committee reviewed the current Nursery Act, proposed changes and worked through each area one by one. Potential changes were discussed at the CNGA Owners & Managers Meeting in November and via conference call. We did not receive any significant feedback against the proposed changes. In addition, the GreenCO Legislative Committee reviewed the bill and we have worked closely with the GreenCO lobbyist to address concerns from legislators. On Monday, March 5th, the House Agriculture Committee will review HB18-1246. CNGA members testify in support of the bill.
The main changes to the Nursery Act are:
- Including a statement of purpose with regards to the protection of agriculture and environment from high risk pests and consumer benefit
- Deleting section 35-26-103 (1) (b) which states: Any nursery that only sells nursery stock that is grown within Colorado and does not export such stock outside of Colorado is exempt from the inspection requirements.
- Adding the sale of noxious weeds or nursery stock contaminated with noxious weeds to prohibited acts.
- Increase in the registration fee cap from $100 to $300. This fee was last raised in 2009. The current fee is $90/year.
- Clarify the definition of sell, broker and distribute nursery stock
- Clarify which plants are regulated as nursery stock, what constitutes a sale, brokering and distribution of nursery stock.
- The Board of Directors is support of the changes as the help to elevate the professionalism of the Nursery industry.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Allison Gault, CAE Executive Director or a member of the CNGA Board of Directors.
— Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association
For more news from Colorado, click here.