(a) General rule.--The department shall inspect, sample, make analyses of and test fertilizers distributed within this Commonwealth and shall inspect the storage of bulk fertilizer at any time and place and to such an extent as the department may deem necessary to determine whether such fertilizers are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The department or its agent may enter upon any public or private premises or carriers during regular business hours in order to have access to fertilizer subject to provisions of this chapter and the records relating to this chapter.

(b) Laboratory methodology.--The department shall establish by regulation the methods of fertilizer sampling and analysis. In promulgating such regulations, the department shall consider methods such as those adopted by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists International. In cases not covered by such methods or in cases where improved methods are available, the department may issue a temporary order defining the method to be utilized. The method defined in the temporary order shall be effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The temporary order shall remain in effect for a period not to exceed one year unless reissued or until such order is promulgated as a regulation.

(c) Deficiency determination.--The department, in determining whether any fertilizer is deficient, shall be guided solely by the official sample obtained and analyzed as provided for in subsections (a) and (b).

(d) Retention of official samples.--Official samples maintained by the department and that require imposition of a penalty for nutrient deficiency shall be retained for a minimum of 90 days from issuance of a deficiency report. Upon request, the department shall furnish to the guarantor a portion of any sample that is subject to penalty or other legal action. Such requests must be made within 30 days of notification of sample violations.