The commissioner is charged with the enforcement of this subchapter, and is empowered to promulgate and adopt, in a manner consistent with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry into effect the full intent and meaning of this subchapter. The commissioner is empowered to adopt regulations establishing definitions and standards for commercial fertilizer ingredients and such other regulations as may be necessary for the enforcement of any provisions of this subchapter.

1. 1. "Withdrawal from sale" orders When the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe a commercial fertilizer is being distributed in violation of any of the provisions of this subchapter, or of any of the prescribed regulations under this subchapter, the commissioner may issue and enforce a written or printed "withdrawal from sale" order warning the distributor not to dispose of the fertilizer in any manner until written permission is given by the commissioner or the court. The commissioner shall release the commercial fertilizer so withdrawn when the provisions and regulations have been complied with and all costs and expenses incurred in the withdrawal have been paid. The issuance of such an order may not be considered licensing or an adjudicatory proceeding, as defined by the Maine Administrative Procedure Act. If compliance is not obtained within 30 days, the commissioner may begin proceedings for condemnation.

   [RR 2021, c. 1, Pt. B, §103 (COR).]

2. 2. Condemnation and confiscation Any lot of commercial fertilizer, not in compliance with this subchapter, shall be subject to seizure on complaint of the commissioner to a court of competent jurisdiction in the area in which said commercial fertilizer is located. In the event the court finds the said commercial fertilizer to be in violation of this subchapter, and orders the condemnation of said commercial fertilizer, it shall be disposed of in any manner consistent with the quality of the commercial fertilizer and the laws of the State. In no instance shall the disposition of said commercial fertilizer be ordered by the court without first giving the claimant an opportunity to apply to the court for release of said commercial fertilizer or for permission to process or relabel said commercial fertilizer to bring it into compliance with this subchapter.

3. 3. Establishment of allowances The commissioner shall establish by rule allowances for deviations from the guaranteed analysis for plant nutrients and from the overall index value of a fertilizer. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.

   [PL 2007, c. 147, §6 (NEW).]

PL 1977, c. 694, §§75,76 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 147, §6 (AMD). RR 2021, c. 1, Pt. B, §103 (COR).