diff --git a/vertica_python/vertica/column.py b/vertica_python/vertica/column.py

index cc0bb27..3266d74 100644

--- a/vertica_python/vertica/column.py

+++ b/vertica_python/vertica/column.py

@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ from collections import namedtuple

 from decimal import Decimal

 from datetime import date

 from datetime import datetime

+from pkg_resources import require,VersionConflict

+try:

+    require("python_dateutil>=1.5")

+except VersionConflict:

+    pass

 from dateutil import parser

 from vertica_python import errors