2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 3:1435 — Authority of the commissioner

§1435.  Authority of the commissioner

The commissioner may:

(1)  Employ agents necessary to enforce this Chapter and the rules and regulations made under this Chapter.

(2)  In order to have access to seeds subject to this Chapter, enter, during regular business hours, any public or private premises where agricultural, vegetable, or flower seeds or other propagating stock is sold, offered for sale, or distributed.

(3)  Issue and enforce a stop-sale notice to the person with a lot of seed or other propagating stock which the commissioner finds, or has good reason to believe, is in violation of this Chapter or the rules and regulations made under this Chapter.

(4)  Establish and maintain a seed laboratory; employ a State seed analyst, other analysts, and other personnel whose work he shall direct and supervise; and incur such other expenses necessary to comply with this Chapter.

(5)  Make purity and germination tests of seeds for persons on request.  The analyses shown by this test shall be for the information of the person requesting the test only and shall not be made the basis of the guaranteed analysis of the seeds required by R.S. 3:1436.

(6)  Enter, either directly or through a duly authorized agent, the premises of any person producing, processing, distributing, or selling seeds and examine that person's books, accounts, and records, and obtain any other information necessary, for purposes of enforcing the provisions of this Chapter and the regulations adopted pursuant to this Chapter.

(7)  Seek and obtain injunctive or other civil relief to restrain and prevent violations of this Chapter, or rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this Chapter, or orders and rulings issued by the commissioner pursuant to this Chapter.

(8)  Institute civil proceedings to enforce his orders or rulings, collect any assessments, late fees, fines, penalties, or costs due under this Chapter or to otherwise enforce the provisions of this Chapter or rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this Chapter.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 149, §3; Acts 2003, No. 175, §1, eff. July 1, 2003.