(1)(a) Each distributor of commercial feed must annually obtain a master registration before her or his brands are distributed in this state. Upon initial registration, the distributor shall agree to comply with this chapter and applicable rules. All registrations expire on June 30 of each year.

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 580.041

  • Commercial feed: means all materials or combinations of materials that are distributed or intended to be distributed for use as feed or for mixing in a feed for animals other than humans, except:
    (a) Unmixed whole seeds, including physically altered entire unmixed seeds, when such seeds are not chemically changed or are not adulterated within the meaning of…. See Florida Statutes 580.031
  • Department: means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. See Florida Statutes 580.031
  • Distributor: means any person who distributes commercial feed or feedstuff. See Florida Statutes 580.031
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Feedstuff: means edible materials, other than commercial feed, which are distributed for animal consumption and which contribute energy or nutrients, or both, to an animal diet. See Florida Statutes 580.031
  • Registrant: means any person issued a master registration by the department. See Florida Statutes 580.031
(b) The application for registration shall be filed with the department by using a form prescribed by the department or by using the department’s website and shall be accompanied by a fee based on tons of feed distributed in this state during the previous year. If a distributor has been in business less than 1 year, the tonnage shall be estimated by the distributor for the first year and based on actual tonnage thereafter. These fees shall be as follows:

SALES IN TONS     FEE

Zero, up to and including 25……….$40

More than 25, up to and including 50……….$75

More than 50, up to and including 100……….$150

More than 100, up to and including 300……….$375

More than 300, up to and including 600……….$600

More than 600, up to and including 1,000……….$900

More than 1,000, up to and including
2,000……….$1,250

More than 2,000, up to and including
5,000……….$2,000

More than 5,000……….$3,500

(c) Registration shall be conditioned on the distributor’s compliance with all provisions of this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter, including:

1. Submitting samples of manufactured feed for testing by laboratories that have been certified by the department or obtaining an exemption from the certified laboratory testing requirement, as provided by this chapter and rules thereof.
2. Maintaining a bookkeeping system and records necessary to indicate accurately the type and tonnage of commercial feeds sold in this state.
3. Reporting within 30 days after the end of each quarter, in the format prescribed by the department, the number of tons of feed distributed in the state during each of the following reporting periods: July through September, October through December, January through March, and April through June.
4. Allowing the department to verify the accuracy of reported type and tonnage and to otherwise examine pertinent records at reasonable times.
(d) The department shall provide a copy of the master registration to the registrant to signify that administrative requirements have been met.
(2) Failure of any distributor to comply with registration shall be considered prima facie evidence of an attempt to violate this chapter, and the department shall have full authority to assess penalties where violations are found for any commercial feed or feedstuff distributed in the state prior to registration.
(3) The department may refuse, suspend, or cancel the master registration of, or impose one or more of the penalties provided in s. 580.121 against, any distributor or registrant who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter.