(a) Before any person sells or offers for sale any restricted-use pesticide in this state for use therein or before any person sells such restricted pesticide for importation into this state where such sale is directly to the user, custom applicator, aerial applicator, or pest-control operator, the person shall apply for and obtain from the commissioner an annual license which authorizes the sale of restricted-use pesticides to persons who have been issued certified pesticide-use permits as required by Section 2-27-11. The license required by this section shall be posted in a conspicuous place in licensee's sales outlet. Application forms for this purpose shall be furnished by the commissioner, which shall be accompanied by a license fee established by the Board of Agriculture and Industries. All such licenses shall expire December 31 of each year and shall be renewed annually as of January 1, upon payment of the required annual license fee. Any person who has more than one sales outlet or establishment in Alabama shall pay an additional license fee established by the board for each such additional sales outlet. If the license fee is not paid by February 15, or within 45 days following its due date, a delinquent penalty of 10 percent shall be added to the license fee. License fees collected under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the Agricultural Fund of the State Treasury.

(b) Before any person is issued a license under this section authorizing the sale of restricted-use pesticides, the person shall comply with all requirements of this article and rules and regulations as may be promulgated and approved for the sale of such pesticides.

(c) It is hereby intended that every person who sells or offers for sale restricted-use pesticides directly to farmer users, custom applicators, aerial applicators, pest-control operators, or other users of restricted-use pesticides shall be subject to licensing requirements of this section except as exempt under Section 2-27-5. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, with approval of the board, may promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of determining whether dealers who apply for a license as required in this section are qualified and equipped to safely handle, keep, store, deliver, transport, and sell or offer for sale restricted-use pesticides, to the end that such pesticides will be sold, stored, and otherwise handled by such dealers in a manner that will not endanger or be hazardous or cause injury or damage to human health, nontarget animals, wildlife, crops, water, or be detrimental to the general environment. Any person denied a license as required in this section shall be entitled to the review, hearing, and appeal rights provided under subsection (d) of Section 2-27-9.