MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2000 Regular Session
To: Agriculture
By: Senator(s) Stogner
Senate Bill 3015
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE TO CERTIFY THE IDENTITY, PURITY AND OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS OF CATFISH STRAINS RELEASED OR MARKETED IN MISSISSIPPI; TO PLACE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE OF SUCH CATFISH; TO REQUIRE CATFISH TO BE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S REGULATION TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CERTIFICATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The Department of Agriculture and Commerce is vested with the full authority to establish and specify rules and regulations for the type, identity, purity and other related factors to catfish strains to be released or marketed in the state.
(2) The Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall not have the power to engage in the sale of certified catfish or to designate any agency or individual to sell certified catfish except that the department may promote the sale of certified catfish in general through advertising.
(3) The department may assess reasonable fees for certifying catfish under this act.
SECTION 2. (1) Every person who issues, uses any advertisement or makes any written or printed representation of description of catfish intended for propagation, release, or sale and uses terms "certified," "state certified" or "Mississippi certified" or any similar words or phrase which expressly or impliedly state or represent such catfish, or catfish seed stock comply with or conform to the certification standards or requirements as required by the Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall comply with this act and the regulations of the department.
(2) No catfish shall be eligible for certification under this act except by full compliance to the standards, requirements and regulations of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce for certification.
(3) Any person who violates this act or any regulation of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to penalties under Section 69-7-613.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.