Every person owning over three thousand (3,000) hens, or who is engaged or who engages in the business of selling eggs to a retailer who retails eggs in the State of Mississippi shall prior to offering for sale or selling eggs to a retailer, secure a license for such business from the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, which license shall first be approved by the board. Applications for licenses shall be on forms furnished by the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, and shall show the name and address of the applicant and such other information as to identity, kind and type of business engaged in as the commissioner shall deem pertinent. Each license application shall be accompanied by a fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00). All licenses issued shall expire on June 30 each year. The license may be revoked or suspended by the board for violation of any provision of this article or rules and regulations duly promulgated by the board for the enforcement of this article, or for the violation of any laws of the State of Mississippi pertaining to producing, grading, classifying or marketing eggs in Mississippi or regulations of the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce duly promulgated for such purposes. For the first offense, the license may be suspended for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; for the second offense, the license may be suspended for not more than sixty (60) days; for the third offense, the license may be suspended for not more than one (1) year. For any subsequent offense, the license may be suspended for any period, or may be revoked. Such disciplinary action shall be the result of not less than board action. Any person against whom such disciplinary action has been taken may apply to the board for a hearing in order to show cause why the disciplinary action shall not be taken. Such petition for a hearing shall act as supersedeas of the disciplinary action until such time as the board shall give the applicant an opportunity for a hearing; provided, however, that if such hearing is granted and any continuation or delay is the result of the action of the applicant, the supersedeas shall not continue past the date set by the board for such hearing.

Application for reinstatement of a revoked license may be made upon expiration of the period of revocation or if permanently revoked, then after twelve (12) months from date of said revocation. Each reinstatement application shall be accompanied by a reinstatement fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00). All licenses shall be valid until suspended or revoked as herein provided or until cancelled by the licensee. Licenses shall not be transferable. Proceeds from the license fees collected under this article shall be transmitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the special fund as provided for elsewhere in this article.