An Act To Allow the Commercial Growth and Sale of Water Spinach in the State

Sec. 1. 7 MRSA c. 419  is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 419

WATER SPINACH

§ 2461.  Water spinach permitting

The department shall provide information about the proper process for obtaining a permit from the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine program to an individual seeking to grow and sell Ipomoea aquatica Forssk., commonly referred to as water spinach. The State shall complete such a permit and approve the commercial growth and sale of water spinach in the State as long as the permittee follows the federal Plant Protection and Quarantine program's containment facility guidelines for noxious weeds and parasitic seed plants in the construction of any greenhouse and operational performance standards for the handling and movement of the plants after sale.

summary

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to provide information about the proper process for obtaining a federal permit to individuals seeking to grow and sell water spinach in Maine and requires the State to allow the commercial growth and sale of water spinach as long as the permittee follows federal guidelines in the construction of any greenhouse and in the handling of the plants after sale.