SEED AND PLANTS FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE

(a) The department may adopt rules, including testing requirements and standards, which must be met before seed or plants represented to be of a certified class may be shipped into the state for distribution in the state. The rules adopted shall be designed to ensure buyers in the state of having available certified seed and plants of known origin, genetic purity, and identity and shall correspond to appropriate rules used in certifying seed and plants produced in Texas. (b) The department may require inspections of seed and plants represented to be of a certified class and shipped into the state for distribution in the state and may collect fees to cover costs of inspection, as determined by the department. The department may require inspection fee payment before distribution in the state. (c) A person may not distribute in this state seed or plants represented to be of a certified class and shipped into the state for distribution in the state, unless the person has first complied with any rules, including testing requirements, adopted by the department for seed or plants shipped into the state. (d) A person may not sell or offer for sale in this state seed or plants represented to be of a certified class and shipped into the state for distribution in the state, unless the seed or plants have been certified by an official certifying agency in the state, province, or country of origin or have been certified by the department. (e) Seed or plants shipped into the state for distribution in the state which are represented to be of a certified class and which are found by the department after investigation to violate the requirements of this section are restricted from distribution. In addition, the department may order the seed or plants in violation confiscated and retained under general supervision of the department. An owner or consignee of restricted or confiscated seed or plants may appeal the order by filing an appeal within 10 days of the order. Appeal is in the county court of the county where the seed or plants are restricted or were confiscated. The appeal in county court is by trial de novo. If no appeal is filed as provided in this section or if after an appeal in county court, the department's action is not reversed, the department may destroy confiscated seed or plants.