(1)(a) Each distributor of commercial feed must annually obtain a master registration before her or his brands are distributed in this state. Upon initial registration, the distributor shall agree to comply with this chapter and applicable rules. All registrations expire on June 30 of each year.

(b) The application for registration shall be filed with the department by using a form prescribed by the department or by using the department’s website and shall be accompanied by a fee based on tons of feed distributed in this state during the previous year. If a distributor has been in business less than 1 year, the tonnage shall be estimated by the distributor for the first year and based on actual tonnage thereafter. These fees shall be as follows:

SALES IN TONS     FEE

Zero, up to and including 25..........$40

More than 25, up to and including 50..........$75

More than 50, up to and including 100..........$150

More than 100, up to and including 300..........$375

More than 300, up to and including 600..........$600

More than 600, up to and including 1,000..........$900

More than 1,000, up to and including2,000..........$1,250

More than 2,000, up to and including5,000..........$2,000

More than 5,000..........$3,500

(c) Registration shall be conditioned on the distributor’s compliance with all provisions of this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter, including:

1. Submitting samples of manufactured feed for testing by laboratories that have been certified by the department or obtaining an exemption from the certified laboratory testing requirement, as provided by this chapter and rules thereof.

2. Maintaining a bookkeeping system and records necessary to indicate accurately the type and tonnage of commercial feeds sold in this state.

3. Reporting within 30 days after the end of each quarter, in the format prescribed by the department, the number of tons of feed distributed in the state during each of the following reporting periods: July through September, October through December, January through March, and April through June.

4. Allowing the department to verify the accuracy of reported type and tonnage and to otherwise examine pertinent records at reasonable times.

(d) The department shall provide a copy of the master registration to the registrant to signify that administrative requirements have been met.

(2) Failure of any distributor to comply with registration shall be considered prima facie evidence of an attempt to violate this chapter, and the department shall have full authority to assess penalties where violations are found for any commercial feed or feedstuff distributed in the state prior to registration.

(3) The department may refuse, suspend, or cancel the master registration of, or impose one or more of the penalties provided in s. 580.121 against, any distributor or registrant who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter.

History.—s. 4, ch. 29755, 1955; s. 3, ch. 61-440; ss. 2, 3, ch. 69-62; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 78-95; s. 2, ch. 86-112; s. 1, ch. 91-178; s. 33, ch. 92-143; ss. 3, 6, 7, ch. 93-90; ss. 3, 16, ch. 94-282; s. 915, ch. 97-103; s. 8, ch. 2008-107; s. 30, ch. 2012-190; s. 131, ch. 2014-150.