§1654. Listing dangerous pests and diseases; bulletins; measures authorized in preventing spread of pest or disease; obstructing preventive measures

A. The entomologist shall prepare and publish a list of dangerous crop and fruit pests, and infectious and contagious plant diseases, known or suspected to be present within the state, or which might be introduced, and may, at any subsequent time, amend the list. The entomologist, with the approval of the commissioner of agriculture and forestry, shall have printed from time to time bulletins containing such information, remedies, preventatives, etc., as he may consider necessary, including also the rules, ordinances, and regulations of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, which bulletins shall be distributed to all farmers and other interested persons in the state.

B. When the entomologist suspects that any pest or plant disease, listed by him as dangerous, exists in any part of the state, he shall verify such suspicion and, if it be well-founded, said entomologist shall take immediate charge of infested or infected property and adopt such measures for the treatment or extermination of pest or disease as he may deem advisable.

C. The entomologist, or any of his duly authorized assistants, may inspect any building, warehouse, depot, or other place where property is located, or premises, nurseries, orchards, groves, or fields suspected to be infested or infected by any crop pest or disease, listed or bulletined by said entomologist, and if in his opinion it is necessary to destroy the property so infested or infected in order to prevent the further spread of the injurious crop pest or disease, he may destroy the property and without compensation to the owner of the infested or infected property.

D. Anyone who seeks to prevent any inspection under the direction of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry by the entomologist, or his authorized assistants, or who otherwise interferes with the agents or employees of the department or the entomologist while in the performance of their duties, shall be subject to the penalties provided in R.S. 3:1653.

Acts 1990, No. 115, §1.