Title 15 — Title 15 AGRICULTURE AND MARKETING

(1) The department may impose upon and collect a civil penalty from a person violating this chapter or the rules adopted under it.(2) The civil penalty must not exceed one thousand dollars per violation per day, except the civil penalty for a violation of pull date requirements i…

(1) A person who knowingly violates RCW 15.130.200 through 15.130.240, 15.130.500, 15.130.520, or 15.130.540 is guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a penalty of not more than two hundred dollars.(2) A person who knowingly violates RCW 15.130.200 through 15.130.240, 15.130.500, 15.…

(1) A person who receives, holds, or sells adulterated or misbranded food is not subject to civil monetary or criminal penalties under this chapter if the person:(a) Establishes that receipt or sale of the food was in good faith;(b) Furnishes the identity of the entity from whom …

(1) The department may refer a violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under it to a state, county, or city attorney, who may initiate proceedings as appropriate and prosecute the matter as prescribed by law.(2) This chapter does not require the department to refer minor v…

This chapter may be known and cited as the food safety and security act.[ 2018 c 236 s 901.]

This chapter and the rules adopted under it must be construed to promote uniformity with federal acts and regulations relating to adulteration, misbranding, and false advertising of food.[ 2018 c 236 s 902.]

The purpose of this chapter is to assist Washington produce farmers in implementation of the produce safety rule adopted by the United States food and drug administration pursuant to the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 301 et seq., as amended by the federal f…

A reference to a federal statute in this chapter means the statute and its implementing regulations existing on June 7, 2018, or as updated by the department by rule.[ 2018 c 106 s 2.]

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Farm" means the same as "farm" in 21 C.F.R. Sec. 112.(2) "Produce" means the same as "produce" in 21 C.F.R. Sec. 112.(3) "Produce safety rule" means the standards for …

The department may take actions necessary to cooperate in implementation of the produce safety rule including, but not limited to, entering into cooperative agreements with the United States food and drug administration, conducting the compliance verification activities under RCW…

(1) The department may establish a voluntary program for farms exempt or partially exempt from the produce safety rule to verify that such farms comply with the rule. This includes, but is not limited to, conducting the compliance verification activities under RCW 15.135.060.(2) …

The department may take the following actions to verify produce farm compliance with the produce safety rule.(1) Maintain a database of produce farms that are covered by the produce safety rule, exempt from the rule, or eligible for a qualified exemption;(2) In compliance with la…

This chapter does not alter or impair the department's authority for regulating food in intrastate commerce under chapter 15.130 RCW. The department may use its authority for regulating food in intrastate commerce under chapter 15.130 RCW to carry out and enforce the provisions o…

(1) The department must adopt rules as necessary to implement the purpose and provisions of this chapter.(2) By rule, the director may adopt a subsequent version of a federal statute or regulation referenced in this chapter.[ 2018 c 106 s 8.]

A produce safety account is hereby established in the agricultural local fund established in RCW 43.23.230. All moneys received under this chapter must be paid into the produce safety account and used solely to carry out the produce safety programs.[ 2018 c 106 s 9.]

(1) Any information or record obtained directly from the federal government or from others under a contract with the federal government is exempt from public inspection and copying under chapter 42.56 RCW if the information or record is exempt from disclosure under federal law in…

This chapter may be known and cited as the produce safety rule implementation act.[ 2018 c 106 s 12.]

The legislature intends to:(1) Authorize and establish a new licensing and regulatory program for hemp production in this state in accordance with the agriculture improvement act of 2018;(2) Replace the industrial hemp research program in *chapter 15.120 RCW, with the new licensi…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Agriculture improvement act of 2018" means sections 7605, 10113, 10114, and 12619 of the agriculture improvement act of 2018, P.L. 115-334.(2) "Cannabis" has the meani…

(1) The department must develop an agricultural commodity program to replace the industrial hemp research pilot program in *chapter 15.120 RCW, in accordance with the agriculture improvement act of 2018.(2) The department has sole regulatory authority over the production of hemp …

(1) The department must develop the state's hemp plan to conform to the agriculture improvement act of 2018, to include consultation with the governor and the attorney general and the plan elements required in the agriculture improvement act of 2018.(2) Consistent with subsection…

The department must develop a postharvest test protocol for testing hemp under this chapter that includes testing of whole plant samples or other testing protocol identified in regulations established by the United States department of agriculture, including the testing procedure…

(1) The department must issue hemp producer licenses to applicants qualified under this chapter and the agriculture improvement act of 2018. The department may adopt rules pursuant to this chapter and chapter 34.05 RCW as necessary to license persons to grow hemp under a commerci…

A person producing hemp pursuant to this chapter must notify the department of the source of the hemp seed or clones solely for the purpose of maintaining a record of the sources of seeds and clones being used or having been used for hemp production in this state. Hemp seed is an…

The hemp regulatory account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from fees established under this chapter must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for implementing this chapter. Only the director of the state dep…

Washington State University may, within existing resources, develop and make accessible an internet-based application designed to assist hemp producers by providing regional communications concerning recommended planting times for hemp crops in this state.[ 2019 c 158 s 9.]

(1) There is no distance requirement, limitation, or buffer zone between any licensed hemp producer or hemp processing facility licensed or authorized under this chapter and any cannabis producer or cannabis processor licensed under chapter 69.50 RCW. No rule may establish such a…

(1) The department must use expedited rule making to adopt the state hemp plan submitted to the United States department of agriculture. As allowed under this section, rule making by the department to adopt the approved hemp plan qualifies as expedited rule making under RCW 34.05…

Beginning on April 26, 2019:(1)(a) No law or rule related to certified or interstate hemp seeds applies to or may be enforced against a person with a license to produce or process hemp issued under this chapter; and(b) No department or other state agency rule may establish or enf…

This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 26, 2019].[ 2019 c 158 s 19.]

The legislature finds that healthy soil is a cornerstone of a high quality of life on earth and that soil health is integral to supporting agricultural viability, promoting positive environmental outcomes, and ensuring the long-term availability of nutritious food.It is the inten…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Collaborating agencies" means the university, the department, and the commission.(2) "Commission" means the Washington state conservation commission.(3) "Department" m…

(1) The Washington soil health initiative is created as a partnership jointly administered by the collaborating agencies.(2) The goals and objectives of the soil health initiative are to improve:(a) Agricultural viability, by improving farm profitability; and by helping agricultu…

[(1)] The university has primary responsibility for the following components of the soil health initiative:(1) [(a)] Establishing a regionally dispersed network of long-term agroecological research and extension demonstration sites to showcase and refine soil health research and …

(1) The department has primary responsibility for the following components of the soil health initiative:(a) Compiling existing information on agricultural viability and environmental function effects related to agricultural soil management practices and regimes across the state'…

(1) The commission has primary responsibility for the following components of the soil health initiative:(a) Developing, publishing, and distributing outreach and education materials to help conservation districts, cooperative extension, and local governments raise awareness of t…

This chapter may be known and cited as the Washington soil health initiative act.[ 2020 c 314 s 7.]

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Cannabis lab" means a laboratory that tests cannabis for compliance with product standards established by rule by the state liquor and cannabis board.(2) "Team" means …

(1) The interagency coordination team for cannabis laboratory quality standards is created. The team consists of the department, the liquor and cannabis board, and the department of health. The department is designated lead agency for the team and must provide the team with all n…

(1) The department must establish and maintain cannabis testing laboratory quality standards by rule in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.(2) Cannabis testing laboratory quality standards must include, but are not limited to, approved methods for testing cannabis for compliance w…

(1) The legislature finds that Washington is one of only five states in the nation without a state program to help food and agricultural producers promote their products based on where the product is grown, raised, or caught. The legislature further finds that a location-based pr…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Agricultural product" has the same meaning as the term "agricultural commodities" in RCW 15.66.010, and is broadly construed to include, but is not limited to, all agr…

(1) The director must establish an advisory committee with representatives from interested agricultural and food production organizations for the purpose of identifying the appropriate scope and nature of a voluntary location-based program to brand and promote local food and agri…

This chapter may be known and cited as the Washington food and agricultural product promotion act.[ 2023 c 276 s 4.]

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Authenticate" means to sign or with present intent to adopt or accept a record, to attach to, or logically associate with the record, an electronic sound, symbol, or p…

(1) If the turf seed production contract does not settle the price of the turfgrass seed, the contract is enforceable and the price shall be determined as described in RCW 62A.2-305 (1) through (3).(2) Except as provided in RCW 15.160.030, payment to the producer is due by the ea…

(1) A turf seed production contract that is authenticated by the producer and turf seed dealer before the producer planting the turfgrass seed may contain payment due date terms that differ from the payment due date terms described in RCW 15.160.020(2) if the contract states the …

(1) A seed bailment contract or seed purchase contract does not create a possessory security interest in goods under the uniform commercial code, chapter 62A.9A RCW. For a seed bailment contract, filing, recording, or notice of the contract is not a requirement for establishing, …

(1) The terms of a turf seed purchase contract must include:(a) The estimated date for seed delivery;(b) The terms and estimated date for the turf seed dealer to pay the seed producer;(c) The amount of turfgrass seed to be purchased; and(d) The species, cultivars, and quality sta…

(1) A turf seed dealer that requests modification to the payment terms of a seed production contract for turfgrass seed shall pay an amount equal to at least 25 percent of the value of the contract prior to modification of the contract.(2) A party to a turf seed production contra…