Amendments to the Agriculture and Marketing Act

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--Amendments to the Agriculture and Marketing Act

Amendments to the Agriculture and Marketing Act that would eliminate two boards have been introduced in the Nova Scotia legislature by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Ernest Fage.

"This is an example of the government's commitment to reducing red tape by eliminating unnecessary or redundant agencies, boards and commissions," said Mr. Fage. "We will make these changes without jeopardizing the modern practices of the agricultural industry."

The amendments propose the elimination of three outdated livestock breeding sections of the act, including the Artificial Insemination Board. The activities of this board and the sections of the act are no longer carried out or are handled under federal regulation.

In the absence of these sections, an amendment gives the minister authority to address unforeseen issues in the livestock industry. This could include making regulations to improve the industry in regards to breeding, production and facility standards, testing methods, inspection and tracking.

The act also updates the Prevention and Control of the Apple Maggot section, originally developed in the 1930s. The change includes elimination of the Apple Maggot Control Board. Inspection for apple maggot is part of certification for export. Apple maggot continues to be an important pest to manage.

The operations of the board have become quite routine, and repealing the board modernizes and streamlines the administration of the inspection program. The amendments outline the process by which inspection and enforcement will be conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.