02 NCAC 43C .0105        INSPECTION CERTIFICATES

(a)  The inspector shall sign and issue a separate certificate for each lot of produce inspected by him. In case two or more lots are loaded together, one certificate may be used; provided, that in case of inspection for any branch of the federal government or for a public institution such lots may be marked by proper stamps to denote quality that conforms to the contract specifications.

(b)  The original certificate shall immediately upon its issuance be delivered or mailed to the applicant or a person designated by him. Two additional copies may be furnished without extra cost.

(c)  Notifications of inspections made shall be mailed or delivered to all parties who are entitled to such information, provided the address of such parties is known.

(d)  In case of cooperative agreements between the state and federal authorities, one copy of each certificate shall be filed with the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Division of Markets, Raleigh, North Carolina.

(e)  Extra copies may be secured by any financially interested persons upon payment of fee determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture. In case of small lots, temporary certificates may be furnished the applicant and copies filed with the local inspection office and later be forwarded to the Raleigh office.

(f)  Requests for extra copies should be directed to:

Commissioner of Agriculture

North Carolina Department of Agriculture

Post Office Box 27647

Raleigh, North Carolina 27611

(g)  When approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture or his agents, certificates of grade, quality or class of farm, horticultural crops and animal products that have previously been graded may be issued on such forms as may be approved.

(h)  Authority to issue certificates of quality shall be given only to applicants for grading or to vendors of products previously graded who have made written application for the privilege and have declared their intentions and willingness to conform to these instructions, and furnish these certificates and keep records of the same and furnish information regarding their use as may be required by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

(i)  Certificates of quality and marked grades may be used only on quality products which have been previously officially graded and solely for such purposes as may be considered proper, ethical and legal in merchandising graded products.

(j)  The privilege or authority to use authorized certificates of quality, labels, seals or stamps of an official grader may be withdrawn for disuse, unethical, deceptive, fraudulent, illegal or unauthorized use.

History Note:      Authority G.S. 106‑190; 106‑192; 106‑195;

Eff. August 1, 1982;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. September 23, 2017.