Blueberry Law Being Repealed

Government is repealing the 1928 Blueberry Associations Act.

The act has not been used in many years and is no longer relevant. All matters associated with it are now dealt with through other pieces of legislation.

"Last year, growers exported $123 million worth of Nova Scotia wild blueberries and government announced $1.08 million over three years to increase the amount of land for the wild blueberry growing industry, so it is important to use modern legislation to protect the crop," said Natural Resources Minister Lloyd Hines. "We are cleaning up the legislation on record by removing this redundant and unused act."

The act was drafted in response to the problem of careless burning of wild blueberry fields on Crown lands. Protections against that activity are now set out in the Forest Fire Protection Regulations under the Forests Act.

In addition, there are no active associations incorporated under the Blueberry Associations Act.

Wild blueberries account for half the value of fruit production in Nova Scotia.