In response to your July 20 “Nanny state alive and well” editorial, I have always supported eliminating the practical section of the retail florist exam because I agree that consumer choice should drive the market.
However, there are several reasons to keep the florist licensing requirement in place.
All 50 states regulate the sale and movement of plant material to prevent introduction and spread of plant pests and diseases. The federal government also heavily regulates the movement of plant material into and within this country for the same purpose.
While nationwide, cut flowers are regulated to a lesser extent than potted plants or nursery stock, there is a need for oversight of this commodity at the state and federal level. The federal government inspects a percentage of cut flowers entering the U.S. for pests and diseases at ports across the country. Some shipments require treatment or destruction because of pest problems.
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