(1) Should any owner or bailee request an inspection of crops, plant material, or other articles or premises for pests, the commissioner shall provide such inspection and issue a certificate setting forth the facts of said inspection and shall charge the owner or bailee adequate fees to cover the cost of such inspections and certificates. The commissioner has authority to impound and prohibit movement, sale, or disposal of such crops, plant material, or other articles until such fees are paid. The release of such crops, plant material, or other articles shall also be dependent on meeting all inspection requirements.
The commissioner may conduct inspections and issue phytosanitary and export certificates on plants for individual shipment to other states or foreign countries if those plants comply with the requirements or regulations of such state or foreign country. The commissioner may collect inspection and certification fees, in an amount established by the agricultural commission, to cover the direct and indirect costs of providing such services. All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the plant health, pest control, and environmental protection cash fund created in section 35-1-106.3. Within sixty days after July 1, 2009, the unexpended and unencumbered balance of the phytosanitary inspection fund, as that fund existed prior to July 1, 2009, shall be transferred to the plant health, pest control, and environmental protection cash fund.
The commission may enter into compliance agreements with producers and distributors of nursery stock, agricultural crops, and other plant materials for the purpose of certifying such plant materials as pest-free for export certification. At any time after entering into such an agreement, if the commissioner has reason to believe that the producer or distributor of the plant material that is the subject of the agreement has failed to comply with all of the terms of the agreement, the commissioner may terminate the agreement by giving the producer or distributor written notice of such termination and the grounds therefor.
Source: L. 37: p. 648, § 13. CSA: C. 80, § 55. CRS 53: § 6-10-11. C.R.S. 1963: § 610-11. L. 78: Entire section amended, p. 459, § 7, effective April 27. L. 85: Entire section amended, p. 1134, § 9, effective May 16. L. 2007: Entire section amended, p. 927, § 5, effective July 1. L. 2009: (2) amended, (HB 09-1249), ch. 87, p. 315, § 3, effective July 1.