(a) It shall be the duty of the commissioner, who may act through his authorized agent, to sample, inspect, make analyses of and test commercial fertilizers distributed within this state at such times and places and to such an extent as he may deem necessary to determine whether such commercial fertilizers are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) The commissioner, individually or through his agent, is authorized to enter upon any public or private premises or carriers during regular business hours in order to have access to commercial fertilizers subject to the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto and to the records relating to their distribution.
(c) In drawing any official sample and in making any analysis, the officially adopted methods and terminology of the association of official analytical chemists shall be used. In cases not covered by such officially adopted methods and terminology, the commissioner shall, as soon as practicable and from other sources deemed proper, adopt and publish appropriate methods and terminology.
(d) The commissioner, in determining for administrative purposes whether any commercial fertilizer is deficient in plant food, shall be guided solely by the official sample as defined in subdivision (7) of Section 2-22-2 and obtained and analyzed as provided for in subsection (c) of this section.
(e) The results of official analysis of any commercial fertilizer which has been found to be subject to penalty or other legal action shall be forwarded by the commissioner to the licensee at least 10 days before the report is submitted to the purchaser. If during that period no adequate evidence to the contrary is made available to the commissioner, the report shall become official. Upon request the commissioner shall furnish to the licensee a portion of any sample found subject to penalty or other legal action.
(f) The analysis, test and sampling of commercial fertilizers shall be made and conducted in accordance with and be subject to the provisions and requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 2 of this title.
Last modified: May 3, 2021