Vermont § 4027 - Diseased or infested stock; stop-sale; destruction

§ 4027. Diseased or infested stock; stop-sale; destruction

• (a) Only sound, healthy nursery stock that will maintain its vigor shall be offered for
  sale. Offering for sale stock that is diseased or infested with injurious pests is
  a violation of this chapter. Whenever the Secretary has reason to believe that any
  nursery, nursery grower, or nursery dealer in the State has produced, introduced,
  installed, sold, or offered for sale diseased or infested nursery stock, the Secretary
  shall inspect that nursery. If, upon inspection, the Secretary finds any diseased
  or infested stock, the Secretary may order the plants, either individually or in blocks,
  to be: (1) put on stop-sale; (2) treated in a particular manner; or (3) destroyed according to the Secretary’s instructions. (b) Plants ordered destroyed or placed on stop-sale must be clearly separable from noninfested
  stock. Any order to destroy or place plants on stop-sale may be made verbally and
  shall be issued in writing within seven days or as soon as practicable. The written
  order shall include the reason for action, a description of the nursery stock affected,
  instructions to separate and tag all nursery stock subject to the order, any recommended
  treatment, and a reference to the appeal rights set forth under subsection (c) of
  this section. Stop-sale tags may not be removed except by written permission of the
  Secretary or upon suitable disposal of the infested plants as determined by the Secretary. (c) A person issued any order under subsection (a) of this section may appeal that order
  to the Secretary within 15 days after receiving the order. The person shall make an
  appeal by letter to the Secretary and shall state any grounds and designate the plants
  affected. (Added 1985, No. 57, § 1; amended 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2009, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2023, No. 73, § 20, eff. July 1, 2023.)