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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87486</law_id><section_number>3.2-4014</section_number><catch_line>Assessment for variance from guarantee</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Production and Sale of Agricultural Products</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="40">Seeds</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Seeds</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may make an assessment for variance from guarantee upon the <span class="dictionary">guarantor</span> if any person sells seed if he finds such seed: (i) is not within testing <span class="dictionary">tolerance</span> of the labeled analysis; (ii) contains <span class="dictionary">restricted noxious-<span class="dictionary">weed seeds</span></span> in excess of the amount claimed on the label; (iii) is not labeled; or (iv) is not labeled in accordance with the provisions of this article. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall make an assessment for variance from guarantee equivalent to one percent of the amount of money the person from whom the sample was taken receives from the <span class="dictionary">sale</span> of the seed or $100 (whichever is greater), upon each <span class="dictionary">lot</span> of seed or portion thereof the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> found in violation, except as provided in subsection B. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall make the assessment for variance from guarantee only on the <span class="dictionary">lot</span> or portion sold after the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> sampled the <span class="dictionary">lot</span>. <a id="paragraph-313188" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4014/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall make an assessment for variance from guarantee upon the <span class="dictionary">guarantor</span> of three times the amount the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> calculates pursuant to subsection A if the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> finds that: (i) the seed contains <span class="dictionary">prohibited noxious-<span class="dictionary">weed seeds</span></span>; (ii) the seed contains <span class="dictionary">restricted noxious-<span class="dictionary">weed seeds</span></span> in a prohibited amount; (iii) the <span class="dictionary">guarantor</span> has mislabeled such seed as to <span class="dictionary">variety</span> including a component of a <span class="dictionary">mixture</span>; (iv) the person who sold the seed does not have the records required in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Duty to maintain records" href="/3.2-4006/">3.2-4006</a> available for inspection; or (v) the person who sold the seed does not have a laboratory analysis available for inspection. <a id="paragraph-313189" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4014/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">guarantor</span> on whom the assessment for variance from guarantee is made shall pay the assessment to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> within 60 days from the date the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> <span class="dictionary">issues</span> the assessment. Any person who fails to pay the assessment within 60 days shall pay a late fee of 10 percent of the assessment to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> in addition to the assessment. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall revoke the license of any person who fails to pay an assessment. <a id="paragraph-313190" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-4014/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 3-219.11; 1958, c. 483; 1966, c. 702, &#xA7; 3.1-273; 1994, c. 577; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
