(1) An inspection fee at the rate of Twenty-five Cents (25¢) per ton shall be paid on commercial feeds distributed in this state by the person whose name appears on the label as the manufacturer, guarantor or distributor, subject to the following:

(a) No fee shall be paid on a commercial feed if the payment has been made by a previous distributor.

(b) No fee shall be paid on customer-formula feeds if the inspection fee is paid on the commercial feeds which are used as ingredients therein.

(c) No fee shall be paid on commercial feeds which are used as ingredients for the manufacture of commercial feeds. If the fee has already been paid, credit shall be given for such payment.

(2) In the case of a commercial feed which is distributed in the state only in packages of ten (10) pounds or less, an annual fee of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per brand shall be paid on or before January 1 of each year in lieu of the inspection fee specified in subsection (1).

(3) The minimum inspection fee shall be Twenty Dollars ($20.00) annually.

(4) Any feed manufactured in the state which is used by a distributor or his contract feeders to feed his own livestock, poultry, or fish, or feed which is distributed in tonnage bulk to any commercial grower of an aquatic species, including, but not limited to, catfish, shall be exempt from the inspection fee on both purchased ingredients and finished feed. To qualify for the above exemption, a permit must be obtained from the commissioner annually and the permit used to obtain exemption on feed ingredients. Any services the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory or the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce provide for permit holders will be paid for according to mutually agreeable prices between both parties.