Sec. 16.

Every person, firm, partnership, association or corporation who sells or gives away nursery stock in this state is hereby required to attach to the outside of each package, box, bale or carload shipped or otherwise delivered, a tag or poster on which shall appear an exact copy of his valid certificate. It shall be unlawful for any carrier, or driver, or owner of a truck or other vehicle to accept for shipment, or transportation, or to transport any nursery stock from place to place within this state unless such nursery stock has attached thereto a valid official certificate of inspection showing that such stock has been inspected and found apparently free from injurious pests and plant diseases, or that the shipment has been authorized by the commissioner of agriculture: Provided, That nursery stock consigned to the commissioner of agriculture may be offered and accepted for shipment, and shipped without such certificate. In case any nursery stock is shipped or transported by any carrier in this state or into this state from another state, country or province without a valid certificate plainly affixed as aforesaid, the fact shall be promptly reported to the commissioner of agriculture by the person, firm, partnership, association or corporation carrying the same, together with the names of the consignor and the consignee and the nature of the shipment, and such carrier shall return it to the consignor, hold it for instructions from the commissioner of agriculture, or send it to the commissioner of agriculture, with the transportation charges prepaid, for inspection. Any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation receiving nursery stock transported from any point within the state, or any other state, country or province, without a valid certificate affixed as aforesaid, shall at once notify the commissioner of agriculture of the fact, and shall not allow such nursery stock to leave his possession until it has been inspected or released by the commissioner of agriculture, and the expenses incurred in making such inspection are paid by such person, firm, partnership, association or corporation. Such stock may be shipped to the commissioner of agriculture, with all transportation charges prepaid, for inspection without any additional expense to the owner other than transportation, drayage and storage charges when such charges are necessarily incurred.

History: 1931, Act 189, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931 ;-- CL 1948, 286.216 ;-- Am. 1955, Act 255, Eff. Oct. 14, 1955