In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Agricultural liming materials” means any substance that contains calcium and magnesium in condition and quantity suitable for use in neutralizing soil acidity, or that is used as an ingredient or reagent in the preparation of any fungicide or insecticide. “Distributor” means a person who imports, manufactures, produces, mixes, exchanges, sells, offers for sale, consigns, furnishes, provides, or supplies agricultural liming material or gypsum as part of a commercial enterprise. “Gypsum” means any product that consists chiefly of calcium sulfate and is intended for use for agricultural purposes. “Registrant” means any person who registers any agricultural liming material or gypsum pursuant to the provisions of this subtitle.

The Secretary may adopt and enforce reasonable rules and regulations relating to the sale of agricultural liming materials or gypsum necessary to carry into effect the full intent and meaning of this subtitle.

The Secretary may collect samples of agricultural liming materials and gypsum to have them analyzed. The Secretary has full access, ingress, and egress to and from any place of business, any quarry, kiln, factory, barn, building, land, or vessel used for manufacturing, storing, transporting, or selling agricultural liming materials or gypsum. The Secretary may open any container or package containing or supposed to contain agricultural liming material or gypsum and take any sample for analysis.

Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a distributor shall register with the Secretary by February 1 of each year each brand or trade name of agricultural liming material or gypsum before distributing the liming material or gypsum in the State. The application for registration shall be accompanied by a copy of the statement of the composition of the brands of the materials as required by § 6–307 of this subtitle. Each applicant for registration shall pay an annual $110 registration fee for agricultural liming materials and gypsum sold or distributed in the State. In addition, each registrant shall pay an inspection fee at the rate of 10 cents per ton sold in the State. Provided the product label has not been altered or changed, a distributor may not be required to register the brand or trade name of an agricultural liming material or gypsum which has been registered by another person under this subtitle.

Each registrant who distributes agricultural liming materials or gypsum in the State shall file by January 31 and July 31 of each year, a semiannual statement setting forth the number of net tons of agricultural liming material or gypsum distributed in the State during the six month period ending the last day of the previous month. Upon filing the statement each registrant shall pay an inspection fee at the rate provided in § 6–305 of this subtitle. Failure to make an accurate statement of tonnage, pay the inspection fee, or to comply with the provisions of this section is sufficient cause to cancel all registrations of the registrant.

Any agricultural liming material or gypsum distributed in the State shall have attached to it or be accompanied by an invoice as provided in § 6–308 of this subtitle bearing a plainly printed statement giving the following information: Name of the manufacturer or importer, and the address of the manufacturer’s or importer’s principal office; Name of the place where manufactured; Brand or trade name of the material; Name of the form of the material; Net weight, if the material is sold in a package; If in a ground or powdered form, fineness of the material showing the percentage passing the 20 mesh sieve, the 60 mesh sieve, and the 100 mesh sieve; Minimum percent of calcium or magnesium expressed in either the elemental form or as calcium oxide (CaO) or magnesium oxide (MgO), and, in the case of gypsum, the minimum percent of calcium sulfate (CaSO4); With respect to all burned forms of liming materials, including mixtures of burned and unburned liming materials, a statement of the total percent of calcium and magnesium expressed in either the elemental form or as calcium oxide (CaO) or magnesium oxide (MgO). The information given in the statement is the manufacturer’s or importer’s guarantee that the product to which it refers is of the kind and quantity or composition and fineness indicated in the statement.

When materials are sold in a package, the information statement shall be plainly printed on the package, or on a tag or label of a quality and fastened in a manner that it cannot be detached in handling. When materials are sold in bulk, the statement shall be delivered to the purchaser either with the invoice or with the materials.

In addition to any penalty provided by this article, the Secretary may revoke the registration if the registrant gives false information in its statements concerning the kind, quality composition, or fineness of materials distributed under the provisions of this subtitle.

If any fine is imposed by the circuit court of any county under the provisions of this subtitle, the fine, less the costs of collection, shall be paid immediately into the fund established by § 6–501 of this title.

The Secretary may issue and enforce a written stop-sale order to the owner, custodian, or distributor of any lot of agricultural liming material or gypsum that: The Secretary finds is in violation of any provision of this subtitle or regulation under this subtitle; or Has been found by federal or State authorities to cause unreasonable adverse effects to humans, animals, plants, or the environment. The order prohibits sale or distribution of the lot of agricultural liming material or gypsum until the Secretary has evidence that the lot is in compliance with the law and until the Secretary provides a written release from the stop-sale order.