80-5-403. Imported seed potatoes -- restrictions -- exceptions -- quarantine. (1) To control and prevent the spread of contagious diseases among seed potato stock:
     (a) seed potatoes may not be imported into this state for any commercial or agricultural purpose unless the seed potatoes are:
     (i) from seed stock produced as a part of a certified seed potato crop in the state or country of origin and certified as being from that stock;
     (ii) inspected at the Montana receiving point by a federal or state-federal standard grade inspector;
     (iii) shipped in a clean, disinfected container or transportation carrier; and
     (iv) accompanied by a United States department of agriculture or state of origin certification of inspection describing the seed variety, seed class, standard grade, quality or condition, and seed source and have affixed to each inspection certificate an official state of origin seed potato certification tag or label; and
     (b) seed or commercial potatoes, equipment, machinery, bags, or containers known to be diseased or contaminated with bacterial ring rot, nematode, or tuber moth may not be brought into this state.
     (2) The provisions of this section do not apply to any unit of the Montana university system when it is importing into this state potato seed for research or educational purposes.
     (3) The department shall quarantine seed potatoes imported into the state in violation of this section. The department shall adopt rules governing quarantines and regulating the use or disposition of quarantined seed potatoes.

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 610, L. 1989.