Title 43 — Title 43 STATE GOVERNMENT—EXECUTIVE
178 chapters · 3,474 sections in this title.
RCW 43.23.001 Definitions.
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For purposes of this chapter:(1) "Department" means department of agriculture;(2) "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons whether or not incorporated.[ 1995 c 374 s 61.]Notes:Effective date—1995 c 374 ss 1-47, 50-53, and…
RCW 43.23.002 Director—Appointment—Powers and duties—Salary.
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The executive and administrative head of the department of agriculture shall be the director. The director shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate and shall have complete charge of and supervisory power over the department. The director shall be paid a s…
RCW 43.23.005 Deputy director—Appointment—Powers and duties.
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The director of agriculture may appoint a deputy director who shall assist the director in the administration of the affairs of the department and who shall have charge and general supervision of the department in the absence or disability of the director, and who, in case a vaca…
RCW 43.23.010 Divisions of department—Assistant directors—State veterinarian—Salaries—Assignment of duties.
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In order to obtain maximum efficiency and effectiveness within the department of agriculture, the director may create such administrative divisions within the department as he or she deems necessary. The director shall appoint a deputy director as well as such assistant directors…
RCW 43.23.015 Divisions of department—Reassignment of division functions.
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Except for the functions specified in RCW 43.23.070, the director may, at his or her discretion, reassign any of the functions delegated to the various divisions of the department under the provisions of this chapter or any other law to any other division of the department.[ 2009…
RCW 43.23.025 Rule-making authority.
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For rules adopted after July 23, 1995, the director of agriculture may not rely solely on a section of law stating a statute's intent or purpose, on the enabling provisions of the statute establishing the agency, or on any combination of such provisions, for statutory authority t…
RCW 43.23.030 Powers and duties.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2238-S.SL) ***The director of agriculture shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties relating to the development of markets, for agricultural products, state and federal cooperative marketing programs, land utilization for agricultural pu…
RCW 43.23.033 Funding staff support for commodity boards and commissions—Rules.
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(1) The director may provide by rule for a method to fund staff support for all commodity boards and commissions if a position is not directly funded by the legislature.(2) Staff support funded under this section, RCW 15.65.047(1)(c), 15.66.055(3), 15.24.215, 15.26.265, 15.28.320…
RCW 43.23.035 Powers and duties—State agricultural market development programs and activities.
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The department of agriculture is hereby designated as the agency of state government for the administration and implementation of state agricultural market development programs and activities, both domestic and foreign, and shall, in addition to the powers and duties otherwise im…
RCW 43.23.037 Publishing and dissemination costs—Deposit of proceeds.
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The director may collect moneys to recover the reasonable costs of publishing and disseminating informational materials by the department. Materials may be disseminated in printed or electronic format. All moneys collected shall be deposited in the agricultural local fund or othe…
RCW 43.23.042 Consultation with commodity commissions.
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The director may consult with each commodity commission established under state law in order to establish or maintain an integrated comprehensive regulatory scheme for each commodity and the agricultural industry in this state as a whole.[ 2002 c 313 s 112.]Notes:Effective dates—…
RCW 43.23.050 Powers and duties.
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The director of agriculture shall:(1) Exercise all the powers and perform all the duties prescribed by law relating to horticulture, and horticultural plants and products;(2) Enforce and supervise the administration of all laws relating to horticulture, horticultural products, an…
RCW 43.23.070 Powers and duties of state veterinarian.
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The state veterinarian shall exercise all the powers and perform all duties prescribed by law relating to diseases among animals and the quarantine and destruction of diseased animals.The state veterinarian shall enforce and supervise the administration of all laws relating to me…
RCW 43.23.090 Powers and duties.
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The director of agriculture shall exercise all powers and perform all duties prescribed by law with respect to the inspection of foods, food products, drinks, milk and milk products, and dairies and dairy products and the components thereof.He or she shall enforce and supervise t…
RCW 43.23.110 Powers and duties.
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The director of agriculture shall exercise all powers and perform all duties prescribed by law with respect to grains, grain and hay products, grain and terminal warehouses, commercial feeds, commercial fertilizers, and chemical pesticides.He or she shall enforce and supervise th…
RCW 43.23.115 Gifts, grants, bequests, or contributions.
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The director of the department may accept, expend, and retain gifts, grants, bequests, or contributions from public or private sources to carry out the purposes and programs of the department.[ 2011 c 245 s 1.]
RCW 43.23.120 Bulletins and reports.
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The director of agriculture may publish and distribute bulletins and reports embodying information upon the subjects of agriculture, horticulture, livestock, dairying, foods and drugs, and other matters pertaining to his or her department.[ 2009 c 549 s 5106; 1977 c 75 s 50; 1965…
RCW 43.23.130 Annual report.
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The director of agriculture shall make an annual report to the governor containing an account of all matters pertaining to his or her department and its administration.[ 2009 c 549 s 5107; 1977 c 75 s 51; 1965 c 8 s 43.23.130. Prior: (i) 1919 c 126 s 1, part; 1913 c 60 s 6, part;…
RCW 43.23.160 Powers and duties.
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The director of agriculture shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties prescribed by law relating to commission merchants, livestock identification, livestock brand registration and inspection. All officers appointed to enforce these laws who have successfully compl…
RCW 43.23.170 Enforcement in accordance with RCW 43.05.100 and 43.05.110.
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Enforcement action taken after July 23, 1995, by the director or the department of agriculture shall be in accordance with RCW 43.05.100 and 43.05.110.[ 1995 c 403 s 623.]Notes:Findings—Short title—Intent—1995 c 403: See note following RCW 34.05.328.
RCW 43.23.200 Official chemists of department—Designated—Duties.
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The chief chemist of the department of agriculture dairy and food laboratory and the chief chemist of the department of agriculture chemical and hop laboratory shall be the official chemists of the department of agriculture. Official chemists of the department shall provide labor…
RCW 43.23.205 Additional chemists—Appointment—Duties—Compensation.
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The director of agriculture may appoint one or more competent graduate chemists to serve as additional chemist of the department of agriculture, who may perform any of the duties required of and under the supervision of the official chemists, and whose compensation shall be fixed…
RCW 43.23.220 Disposition of impounded livestock on Hanford reservation—Agreements to act as federal government's agent.
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The director of agriculture may enter written agreements with one or more agencies of the United States to act as the federal government's agent for determining the disposition of livestock impounded on the federal Hanford reservation. The director's authority under such an agree…
RCW 43.23.230 Agricultural local fund—Animal disease traceability account.
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(1) The agricultural local fund is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The fund shall consist of such money as is directed by law for deposit in the fund, and such other money not subject to appropriation that the department authorizes to be deposited in the…
RCW 43.23.250 Collection of unpaid penalties, assessments, and debts—Use of collection agencies.
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Except as otherwise specified by law, the director or his or her designee has the authority to retain collection agencies licensed under chapter 19.16 RCW for the purposes of collecting unpaid penalties, assessments, and other debts owed to the department.The director or his or h…
RCW 43.23.255 Assessments levied by director—Personal debt—Costs of collecting—Civil actions authorized—Attorneys' fees.
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Except as otherwise specified by law, any due and payable assessment levied under the authority of the director or his or her designee in such specified amount as may be determined by the department shall constitute a personal debt of every person so assessed or who otherwise owe…
RCW 43.23.260 Interest on unpaid balances.
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Except as otherwise specified by law, the department is authorized to charge interest at the rate authorized under RCW 43.17.240 for all unpaid balances for moneys owed to the department.[ 1995 c 374 s 64.]Notes:Effective date—1995 c 374 ss 1-47, 50-53, and 59-68: See note follow…
RCW 43.23.265 Dishonored check or negotiable instrument.
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Except as otherwise specified by law, in the event a check or negotiable instrument as defined by RCW 62A.3-104 is dishonored by nonacceptance or nonpayment, the department is entitled to collect a reasonable handling fee for each instrument. If the check or instrument is not pai…
RCW 43.23.270 Export market development project records—Confidentiality.
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Except for release of statistical information not descriptive of any readily identifiable person or persons, all financial and commercial information and records supplied by persons to the department with respect to export market development projects shall be kept confidential un…
RCW 43.23.275 Market development and promotion matching fund program.
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There is created a market development and promotion matching fund program within the Washington state department of agriculture. The purpose of the program is to allow the department of agriculture and the agricultural industry to combine funds in order to enhance access to marke…
RCW 43.23.280 Trade barrier matching fund program.
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(1) The legislature finds that trade barriers have become an increasingly important issue in the agricultural arena. Further, the world trade organization highlighted the need for "a fair and level playing field." The legislature finds that both large and small commodity groups n…
RCW 43.23.290 Food assistance programs—Use for essential nonfood items.
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(1) The director of the department may exercise powers and duties with respect to the administration of food assistance programs in the department. It is the intent of the legislature in administering the food assistance programs transferred to the department by chapter 68, Laws …
RCW 43.23.300 Program to promote and protect pollinator habitat and pollinator species.
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(1) The department shall establish a program to promote and protect pollinator habitat and the health and sustainability of pollinator species. As funds are made available, the program must provide technical and financial assistance to state agencies, local governments, and priva…
RCW 43.23.310 Environmental justice obligations of the department of agriculture.
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The department must apply and comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of chapter 70A.02 RCW.[ 2021 c 314 s 6.]Notes:Conflict with federal requirements—2021 c 314: See note following RCW 70A.02.005.
RCW 43.23.330 Washington commodities donation grant program.
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(1) The department must implement the Washington commodities donation grant program established in this section. The purpose of the program is to procure Washington grown produce, grains, and protein otherwise at risk of ending up as food waste for distribution to hunger relief o…
RCW 43.23.340 Agricultural pest and disease response account.
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(1) The agricultural pest and disease response account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from moneys appropriated to the account by the legislature or moneys directed to the account from any other lawful source, for the purpose of funding emerging agricultural pest a…