Sec. 11.
(1) The director shall administer and enforce this act and maintain a seed testing laboratory and facilities with all necessary equipment and such analysts, inspectors, assistants, and other personnel necessary for proper enforcement and incur expenses as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. The director shall do all of the following:
(a) Sample, inspect, make analysis of, and test any of the seed defined in this act which is sold or held for sale within the state, for seeding purposes, at the time and place and to the extent as he or she considers necessary to determine whether the seeds are in compliance with this act and notify promptly the person who sold, offered, or exposed the seed for sale of any violation found relating to the seed.
(b) Enter upon any public or private premises during regular business hours in order to have access to seeds and the records related to seeds subject to this act and the rules promulgated under this act, and upon any conveyance on land, water, or air at any time that the conveyance is accessible, for the same purpose.
(c) Promulgate any rules, in accordance with the administrative procedures act of 1969, Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, being sections 24.201 to 24.328 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, as may be incidental to, or necessary for, the accomplishment of the purpose and the enforcement of this act. If the Michigan supreme court rules that sections 45 and 46 of the administrative procedures act of 1969, Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, being sections 24.245 and 24.246 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, are unconstitutional, and a statute requiring legislative review of administrative rules is not enacted within 90 days after the Michigan supreme court ruling, the department shall not promulgate rules under this act.
(d) Prescribe and, after public notice, establish germination standards for vegetable, flower, and forest tree seed, if necessary, to aid in the efficient enforcement of this act.
(e) Make or provide for the making of purity, germination, and other tests of seed for any person on request, prescribe rules governing such testing, prescribe by rule fees for testing seed that shall not exceed the actual cost of conducting the test and that are comparable with fees for similar testing in other states, and establish inspection fees to enforce the provisions of this act. Fees for germination and purity tests of 1 kind of agricultural seed shall not exceed $15.00 per sample. All fees collected for the testing of seeds shall be deposited with the state treasurer and credited to the general fund.
(f) Cooperate with the United States department of agriculture and other agencies or associations in seed law enforcement.
(2) In the case of field bean seeds, the field inspection, laboratory analysis, and the securing and submission of a representative sample shall be performed by a person or agency approved by the director. The director shall authorize the person or agency to charge fees commensurate with the activity. Producers and persons or agencies conducting analyses or inspections shall generate inspection and analysis information and maintain that information for a period of at least 2 years following final disposition of the seed lot. The approved persons and agencies and seed producers shall provide records and information regarding field inspections and laboratory tests to the director upon request.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a person shall not have a cause of action against an inspection or testing agency or its employee if the inspection or testing agency or its employee is engaged in duties permitted by this act and utilizes written and approved procedures and protocols established by the director. An inspection or testing agency or its employee is liable for injuries to persons and damage to property under 1 or more of the following circumstances:
(a) The inspection or testing agency or its agent or employee failed to follow written procedures and protocols.
(b) The inspection or testing agency or its agent or employee improperly interpreted laboratory test results even though the written procedures and protocols were followed.
(c) The actions taken by the inspection or testing agency or its agent or employee were not within the scope of its official duties.
History: 1965, Act 329, Eff. Mar. 31, 1966 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 455, Imd. Eff. Dec. 27, 1988 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 86, Imd. Eff. Feb. 27, 1996
Last modified: October 10, 2016