-
Subchapter 002: GENERALLY
§ 2963. Agricultural Development Division
(a) A division of agricultural development is created within the Agency of Agriculture,
Food and Markets as the successor to and the continuation of the Agricultural Markets
Development Division.
(b) The Development Division may:
(1) assist individuals and organizations in developing ways that will increase the agricultural
use of Vermont lands and other agricultural resources;
(2) assist in maintaining a price reporting system to service the agricultural community
of Vermont;
(3) develop and maintain a directory of producers of food, livestock, and fiber products;
(4) identify and develop new markets for agricultural products and assist in the development
of new products that might play a significant part in the expansion of agriculture
in Vermont;
(5) assist in developing the Vermont product identification program created in section 2964 of this title;
(6) develop an advertising program for Vermont agricultural products; and
(7) assist in the promotion of research on agricultural products. (Added 1975, No. 217 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1989, No. 256 (Adj. Sess.), § 10(a), eff. Jan. 1, 1991; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2023, No. 6, § 57, eff. July 1, 2023.)
§§ 2963a, 2964. Repealed. 2011, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. May 15, 2012.
§ 2964a. Spring or artesian water; labels
(a) A bottler of spring or artesian water may apply to the Secretary of Agriculture, Food
and Markets for a specially designated identification label to indicate that the water
originated and was bottled in Vermont and that it complies with any quality requirements
adopted by the Agency. The bottler requesting the labels shall annually pay a minimum
fee of $20.00 and the cost of all labels requested. The bottler shall also obtain
approval from the Department of Environmental Conservation under 10 V.S.A. § 1673 to qualify for a label under this subsection.
(b) The labels provided for in this section shall be designed and issued by the Agency
of Agriculture, Food and Markets and shall not be similar to the labels issued under
section 2964 of this title.
(c) Funds received under this section shall be retained by the Agency for administration
of this section in accordance with the provisions of 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5.
(d) A person who fraudulently utilizes the labels issued under this section, who willingly
allows another to use the labels fraudulently, or who applies the labels to water
that does not meet quality standards adopted by the Secretary shall be fined not more
than $500.00 for each offense. In the case of a continuing violation, each day the
offense continues shall constitute a separate offense, with the maximum amount of
fine assessed not to exceed $10,000.00 per violation. (Added 1993, No. 47, § 1; amended 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003.)
§ 2965. Misuse of labels; penalty
(a) No person shall use, nor allow another person to use, an identification label designed
and issued by the Secretary under section 2964 of this title without authorization of the Secretary.
(b) A person who violates this section commits a civil violation and shall be assessed
a penalty of not less than $500.00.
(c) In addition to the penalties set forth in this section, the Secretary may take any
action authorized under 6 V.S.A. chapter 1 to enforce the requirements of section 2964 of this title and the rules adopted pursuant to that section. (Added 1975, No. 217 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1983, No. 13, § 2; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2009, No. 78 (Adj. Sess.), § 6c.)
§ 2966. Repealed. 2015, No. 39, § 25.