2013 Maryland Code
AGRICULTURE
§ 9-202 - Duties of Secretary

§9-202.

The Secretary shall:

(1) Inspect, sample, analyze, test, and examine any seed transported, sold, offered, or exposed for sale in the State for planting purposes, at any time and place and to any extent he deems necessary to determine whether the agricultural, vegetable, herb, flower, tree, or shrub seed complies with the provisions of this subtitle;

(2) Notify promptly the person who transported, sold, offered or exposed the seed for sale, of any violation of this subtitle;

(3) Prescribe, and after public hearing following reasonable notice, adopt rules and regulations governing the methods of inspecting, sampling, analyzing, testing, and examining agricultural, vegetable, herb, flower, tree, and shrub seed, and the tolerances to be followed in administering this subtitle, and any other rule or regulation necessary to enforce this subtitle;

(4) Prescribe, and after public hearing following reasonable notice, adopt or amend by rule or regulation a prohibited and restricted noxious weed list;

(5) Prescribe, and after public hearing following reasonable notice, adopt rules and regulations establishing reasonable standards of germination for seed;

(6) Establish and maintain or make provisions for laboratory and field testing of seeds, to employ qualified persons, and incur expenses necessary to comply with these provisions;

(7) Make or provide for making purity analyses, germination tests, and examinations of seeds for farmers and dealers on request;

(8) Prescribe rules and regulations governing the analyses, tests, and examinations;

(9) Fix and collect charges for the analyses, tests, and examinations;

(10) Publish the results of the analyses, tests, and examinations made under the provisions of this subtitle, together with any other information deemed advisable;

(11) Cooperate with the United States Department of Agriculture in seed law enforcement; and

(12) Direct seed certification work in the State.