§ 30A-7. Effective date and transitional period.
(a)
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon approval by the board of supervisors or voters of Sonoma County, except as set forth here and below.
(b)
Any person or other legal entity that is already propagating, cultivating, raising or growing genetically engineered organisms in the county on, or before, the date this chapter is approved by the board of supervisors or voters of Sonoma County shall be permitted to maintain such organisms until the end of their natural agronomic growth cycle. Any person or other legal entity in possession of genetically engineered seed purchased before the date this chapter is approved may cultivate those seeds in the growing cycle immediately following the enactment of this chapter. At the conclusion of that time period, any person or other legal entity who has continued propagating, cultivating, raising or growing genetically engineered organisms in the county during this transitional period shall be required to destroy and safely dispose of, or remove completely and permanently from the county, any remaining genetically engineered organisms.
(c)
None of the provisions of this chapter shall be construed to permit any person or other legal entity that is not currently in possession of genetically engineered seed or already propagating, cultivating, raising or growing genetically engineered organisms in the county to begin to do so after this chapter is approved by the board of supervisors or voters of Sonoma County.
(d)
Other than Section 30A-7(a) above, none of the provisions of the Ordinance shall be construed to permit any person or other legal entity who is already propagating, cultivating, raising or growing genetically engineered organisms in the county to propagate, cultivate, raise or grow any genetically engineered organisms not already living and established in the county, or otherwise to begin any new activity prohibited by Section 30A-5 of this chapter, after it takes effect.
(Ord. No. 6196 R , § 7, 11-8-2016)