Tobacco licensing appeal dismissed

Saturday, June 2, 2012

by SUSAN MANN

A bid by Violet Osztrovics of Burford to grow tobacco this year has failed after an agricultural tribunal dismissed her appeal.

The Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal handed down its decision May 28 without reasons. That’s because Osztrovics said she needed a decision before May 31 so she could get this year’s crop planted if she was successful. The tribunal said it would release the written reasons for its decision as soon as they are available.

Osztrovics appealed to the tribunal after the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board denied her application for this year for a license to produce tobacco.

Neither Osztrovics nor tobacco board chair Fred Neukamm was available for comment.

Ontario’s tobacco licensing system has been in place since 2009 and replaced the previous quota arrangement. The system requires growers to obtain contracts from processors before they’re issued annual licenses. It’s administered by the tobacco board. BF