1. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a person may not handle perishable commodities, as owner, agent, or otherwise, without a license or an identification card issued by the department.

2. (b) This section does not apply to:

   1. (1) a retailer, unless the retailer:

      1. (A) has annual sales of perishable commodities that comprise 50 percent or more of the retailer's total sales; or
      2. (B) employs a buying agent who buys directly from a producer;
   2. (2) a producer who handles or deals exclusively in the producer's own products;
   3. (3) a person shipping less than six standard boxes of citrus fruit in any one separate shipment; or
   4. (4) a person who ships a noncommercial shipment of perishable commodities.

Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1252, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.

Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 917, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985;

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.