reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 57 - Transfers to Land Authority—Personnel, equipment, funds, etc

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to transfer, together with the said programs, the personnel, equipment, material, funds and other appurtenances thereof.
History —June 30, 1955, No. 107, p. 644, § 2, eff. 30 days after June 30, 1955.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 58 - Milch Cattle Program—Creation

A program is hereby set up under the direction and supervision of the Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico, for the purchase of milch heifers and cows to be sold to low income peasants and farm hands who are family heads and reside in the rural districts, under such installment plan and conditions as are fixed by regulation.
History —June 18, 1956, No. 61, p. 184, § 1, eff. July 1, 1956.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 59 - Milch Cattle Program—Revolving fund

To evolve and effectuate the purposes of §§ 58—64 of this title, a revolving fund is hereby created in the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico with the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) which is hereby appropriated from any funds in the Commonwealth Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
History —June 18, 1956, No. 61, p. 184, § 2, eff. July 1, 1956.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 60 - Milch Cattle Program—Personnel and expenses; purchase of milch animals

Besides purchasing milch heifers, cows and goats, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, with such revolving fund, acquire fodder, and pay for transportation, personnel wages, and any other expenses necessarily incurred in safeguarding the maintenance, health, and delivery of the animals.
History —June 18, 1956, No. 61, p. 184, § 3, eff. July 1, 1956.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 61 - Milch Cattle Program—Disposition of proceeds from sale of milch animals

The proceeds from the sale of milch heifers and cows and from any other services rendered under the program herein set up shall be covered into the revolving fund.
History —June 18, 1956, No. 61, p. 184, § 4, eff. July 1, 1956.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 62 - Milch Cattle Program—Regulations

The Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico is hereby vested with the necessary powers and authority to make the requisite and pertinent regulations for the selection of the program’s beneficiaries and the fixing of the terms and conditions for operation of this program.
History —June 18, 1956, No. 61, p. 184, § 5, eff. July 1, 1956.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 63 - Milch Cattle Program—Organization and integration

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby empowered to set up this program through the established organization and pursuant to the provisions of Act Jan. 24, 1951, No. 1, and the provisions of §§ 56 and 57 of this title, shall also be applicable as to inclusion of the program in any transfer that may be made.
History —June 18, 1956, No. 61, p. 184, § 6, eff. July 1, 1956.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 63a - Milch Cattle Program—Dairy Cattle Insurance Fund

The Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized to charge the beneficiaries of the Dairy Cattle Purchase and Distribution Program, in addition to the cost and transportation expenses of the animals sold according to the provisions of §§ 58—64 of this title, an amount not greater than ten percent (10%) of the sale price of said animals, which amount shall be covered into a trust fund known as the “Dairy Cattle Insurance Fund”; Provided, That the first payments made by each beneficiary, up to a sum sufficient to cover the percent of the sale price of each animal as set through regulation by the Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico, shall be covered into the said trust fund, and the other payments shall be covered into the revolving fund created by § 59 of this title. Said trust fund shall serve to secure that the funds appropriated for said Program be not considerably dwindled because of the death of the animals so sold. Upon the death of any animal acquired by any beneficiary under said Program, the Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico is hereby empowered to cancel any unpaid balance of the time price owed in excess of the amount payable by the beneficiary up to the date of the death of the animal, according to the corresponding purchase-sale contract. The Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico is likewise empowered to issue an acquittance to the beneficiary as soon as the latter has paid the amount payable by him up to the date of the death of the animal, as aforesaid, and the Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico transfers, at the request of said official, the amount of the cancelled debt from the Dairy Cattle Insurance Fund to the revolving fund created by § 59 of this title; Provided, That the amount to be so transferred from one fund to the other as above stated shall be the total debt owing by the beneficiary in case he does not pay the amount he has to pay; and Provided, likewise, That no other animal shall be sold under said Program to any beneficiary who does not pay the corresponding amount owing up to the date of the death of the animal previously sold to him.
The amounts owing by those beneficiaries whose animals acquired under said Program have died without their price having been fully paid, under the corresponding purchase-sale contracts, from the date of the death of such animals, are hereby remitted; and the transfer of $ 7,500 from the revolving fund of said Program to the Dairy Cattle Insurance Fund is hereby authorized. Said amount shall constitute the initial deposit of the said Dairy Cattle Insurance Fund and shall answer as aforesaid for the dairy cattle already sold that may die in the possession of the beneficiaries without their price having been fully paid.
History —June 18, 1956, No. 61, p. 184, added as § 6(A) on June 10, 1959, No. 24, p. 80, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 64 - Milch Cattle Program—Powers of Secretary of Agriculture

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby vested with such additional authority, rights and powers as may be necessary for the carrying out of the purposes of §§ 58—64 of this title, including, but not by way of limitation, the following:
(1) To accept as a donation, from any natural or artificial person, or from any private or public institution of Puerto Rico or of any other country, money, animals, equipment, supplies and service, to be used or invested in accordance with the purposes of §§ 58—64 of this title. Money so received shall be covered into the revolving fund hereby created.
(2) Enter into such contracts, covenants and agreements as the Secretary of Agriculture may deem necessary and convenient for the effectuation of the purposes hereof, with any natural or artificial person, or private or public institution of Puerto Rico or of any other country.
History —June 18, 1956, No. 61, p. 184, § 7, eff. July 1, 1956.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 3 - Food, Marketing, Production and Distribution (§§ 51 — 66) › § 66 - Fund for Administrative Expenses

There is hereby authorized the creation of a fund, of a permanent nature, to be known as the “Fund for Administrative Expenses of Agricultural Programs”. The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to cover into this fund the amounts which he may deem necessary up to a maximum of six percent (6%) from the amounts appropriated in § 1 of this J.R. for the administration of the Agricultural Programs. The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to transfer to said fund, on request of the Secretary of Agriculture, up to a maximum of six percent (6%) from the amounts appropriated annually for purposes of §§ 420—420g and 318a—318e of this title. Said fund shall be used to pay those operation expenses which the Department of Agriculture has had to incur through the carrying out of the programs.
History —May 28, 1970, J.R. No. 42, p. 299, § 3, eff. July 1, 1970.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 4 - Agriculture and Food Technology Research and Development Financing Program (§§ 71 — 79) › § 71 - Public policy

It is hereby established as the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to promote highly technological agriculture, as well as to develop a research plan to address in a prompt and effective manner the urgent needs that arise in agricultural businesses and those areas related to the production of food, adjusted to the needs of our local enterprises and to our condition as a tropical island. The Department of Agriculture, in close collaboration with the Agricultural Sciences College of the University of Puerto Rico and its research component, the Agricultural Experiment Station, shall establish the mechanisms to grant funds to the best proposals, and to identify the priorities, personnel, and resources necessary to guarantee the success of this Program. The Research Program and the use of the funds made available through this chapter shall be directly and closely focused on the public policy of agricultural development, as established by the Secretary of Agriculture. It is the Secretary who shall finally approve the Research Program and shall submit recommendations for the best operation thereof.
History —Mar. 18, 2008, No. 26, § 2, eff. 30 days after Mar. 18, 2008.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 4 - Agriculture and Food Technology Research and Development Financing Program (§§ 71 — 79) › § 72 - Definitions

(a) Secretary. — Means the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
(b) Dean. — Means the Dean/Director of the Agricultural Sciences College of the Mayagüez Campus.
(c) Committee. — Means the Agricultural Technology Research and Development Financing Committee; a group of officers upon whom the powers and faculties for the implementation of the Research Financing Program pursuant to this chapter are delegated.
(d) Research Program. — Means the Program to be developed by the Agricultural Technology Research and Development Financing Committee in which the agricultural research priorities of Puerto Rico shall be systematically addressed.
(e) Research proposal. — Means the document to be presented by the researchers or agencies interested in participating of the research funds, in which the need for the research proposed, the scientific method to be followed, the scope and the expected results, as well as the budgetary request shall be itemized. It shall also include any other information that the Committee deems relevant for the proposal evaluation.
(f) FIDA. — Means the Integral Fund for the Agricultural Development of Puerto Rico (F.I.D.A., Spanish acronym), a subsidiary corporation of the Land Authority of the Government of Puerto Rico.
(g) University. — Means the University of Puerto Rico.
History —Mar. 18, 2008, No. 26, § 3, eff. 30 days after Mar. 18, 2008.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 4 - Agriculture and Food Technology Research and Development Financing Program (§§ 71 — 79) › § 73 - Members of the Committee

(1) The Secretary or the officer upon whom he/she delegates his/her powers and faculties pursuant to the Organic Act of said Department shall be the chairperson of the Committee.
(2) The Dean and Director of the Agricultural Sciences College.
(3) The Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, or the officer upon whom he/she delegates his/her powers and faculties pursuant to the Organic Act of said Department.
(4) A representative of the agricultural sector related to the agricultural area to be affected by the proposal.
(5) An agroindustrial sector representative related to the agricultural area to be affected by the proposal.
History —Mar. 18, 2008, No. 26, § 4, eff. 30 days after Mar. 18, 2008.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 4 - Agriculture and Food Technology Research and Development Financing Program (§§ 71 — 79) › § 74 - Areas of research

(a) The Committee shall recommend a Research Program that shall include necessary areas of basic and applied research directed to solving the problems of our farmers and of our agricultural enterprises, as well as to foster and promote the economic development of our agriculture. The Program shall receive the approval of the Secretary, pursuant to § 71 of this title, before the implementation thereof by the Committee.
(b) The priority research areas are:
(1) Food processing and development of new products.
(2) Marketing of farm fresh and processed agricultural products.
(3) Biotechnology and genetic improvement in plants and animals.
(4) Pest and disease control in plants and animals.
(5) Production of certified seed.
(6) Agricultural mechanization and automation.
(7) Fish and animal feeding, reproduction and production.
(8) Techniques for the production of tropical crops with commercial potential for Puerto Rico.
(9) Use and management of natural and environmental resources in agriculture with emphasis on the sustainable management of water resources in agricultural and agroindustrial enterprises.
(10) Soil and fertilizer management.
(11) Implementation of biosecurity measures on the farm.
(12) Packing and handling of agricultural products in the farm.
(13) Efficient use of energy in agricultural operations and in the production of energy alternative to fuel.
(c) The priority research areas shall be reviewed and updated annually by the Committee.
History —Mar. 18, 2008, No. 26, § 5, eff. 30 days after Mar. 18, 2008.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 4 - Agriculture and Food Technology Research and Development Financing Program (§§ 71 — 79) › § 75 - Evaluation of proposals

(a) Priorities. — The Secretary shall annually establish specific priorities in the research areas in accordance with the government public policy and shall establish the mechanisms and regulations necessary to channel the research proposal petitions received by the Committee.
(b) [Effectiveness]. — The proposals shall be competitive and upon their approval, these proposals shall be in effect for a minimum of one (1) year to a maximum of three (3) years for the development and conclusion of the research. The applicant may, by means of petition, extend said term if the Committee deems that such extension is reasonable, but the same shall not exceed two (2) additional years.
History —Mar. 18, 2008, No. 26, § 6, eff. 30 days after Mar. 18, 2008.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 4 - Agriculture and Food Technology Research and Development Financing Program (§§ 71 — 79) › § 76 - Research Fund

(a) A “Special Research Financing Fund Account” shall be established at the Land Authority that shall be nourished annually and as of the approval of this act with a sum of up to three percent (3%) of the total sum deposited in the (FIDA) account.
(b) The Research Funds shall be used exclusively to defray expenses for materials, equipment and direct costs related to the research. Research Funds shall not be used to defray scientific personnel payroll, contracts, or administrative expenses, revenues or stipends of any kind. These expenses shall be defrayed by the agency that requests the funds from the Committee.
(c) The Research Funds shall be used to defray the payment of university financial aid provided that the student participates in one hundred percent (100%) of the research in the project financed with these funds. The amount to be subsidized and the number of graduate students per project shall be established by the Agricultural Technology Development Committee through recommendations that shall be incorporated into the regulations established for such purposes. The funds may be used for the payment of the salaries and fringe benefits for the support and personnel by day’s wages or on payroll, who work directly with the research project. The funds shall not be used for the payment of contracts other than the hiring of the personnel described above, nor to defray administrative expenses, revenues, or stipends of any kind. Neither shall these funds be used to defray compensation in addition to salary, except for a highly justified need; and if this were the case, the prior approval of the Committee is required.
(d) The expenses of the projects participating in the Program that cannot be defrayed with the research funds provided by this chapter shall be the responsibility of the agency requesting the same.
History —Mar. 18, 2008, No. 26, § 7, eff. 30 days after Mar. 18, 2008.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 4 - Agriculture and Food Technology Research and Development Financing Program (§§ 71 — 79) › § 77 - Products of the research

It is hereby provided that those products manufactured, created or developed by the Agricultural Experiment Station Researchers financed with these funds and that may be patented or copyrighted under the laws of the Government of Puerto Rico and of the United States, shall be the property of the University of Puerto Rico in accordance with the procedures established by the same.
History —Mar. 18, 2008, No. 26, § 8, eff. 30 days after Mar. 18, 2008.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 4 - Agriculture and Food Technology Research and Development Financing Program (§§ 71 — 79) › § 78 - Interagency Cooperation Agreement

(a) The establishment of cooperation agreements among the Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Sciences College and the Department of Economic Development shall be a requirement for the disbursement of funds for every project that is approved in order to ensure that the mechanisms agreed upon shall have priority and ensure their execution.
(b) FIDA shall guarantee the availability of funds, as it may be determined and under the disbursement conditions approved by the Approval Committee, and for the term that the research has been approved.
(c) The ASC shall commit to and certify that it has the human and scientific resources, and the support and field personnel, as well as the facilities, laboratories and equipment needed to comply with the objectives of the approved research and to complete the same within the agreed upon time. Only the research projects that meet these requirements shall be approved in order to prevent the approval of more projects than can actually be completed.
(d) The scientific personnel that shall conduct the research shall have fifty percent (50%) or more of their academic task assigned to the Research Program of the Agricultural Experiment Station in order to assume leadership in research projects financed by this Program.
(e) The Department of Economic Development may match funds, finance or defray part of the funds necessary for the research projects that it deems are important for industrial development, and those to which the Committee deems that it should make a contribution.
History —Mar. 18, 2008, No. 26, § 9, eff. 30 days after Mar. 18, 2008.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 4 - Agriculture and Food Technology Research and Development Financing Program (§§ 71 — 79) › § 79 - Annual report

The Dean shall render an annual report to the Secretary of Agriculture and to the Legislature on the progress of the agricultural research conducted with the funds provided under this chapter. Said report shall be submitted at the closing of the fiscal year on or before June 30 of each year.
History —Mar. 18, 2008, No. 26, § 10, eff. 30 days after Mar. 18, 2008.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter I - Promotion and Development of Agricultural Markets (§§ 101 — 106) › § 101 - Definitions

The following terms shall have the following meanings wherever used or referred to in §§ 101—105 of this title, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) Agricultural market.—Shall mean the place or facilities used to sell, store, gather, classify, pack, process or in any other way handle farm products.
(b) Farm product.—Shall mean all that is obtained from the practice of the farm and cattle industries and of gardening, for the use and consumption of man and domestic animals, including the byproducts thereof, whether fresh or in any way processed or preserved, as well as the byproducts of the cattle industry in all its branches, including apiculutre and aviculture.
(c) Facilities.—Shall mean the properties and services that in the judgment of the Secretary of Agriculture may be necessary or useful for the best marketing of farm products.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 239, p. 612, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter I - Promotion and Development of Agricultural Markets (§§ 101 — 106) › § 102 - Marketing facilities; transfer to Land Authority

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to establish facilities for the marketing of farm products, to possess and/or manage agricultural markets in or outside Puerto Rico, and to acquire, possess, and/or manage, any industrial or commercial properties and enterprises connected with the marketing of farm products.
The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby further empowered to transfer, with the approval of the Governor of Puerto Rico, to the Land Authority of Puerto Rico or to any of its subsidiary corporations created under the provisions of Act No. 106, approved June 30, 1955, the rural markets for farm products heretofore or hereafter established with the appropriations carried by Joint Resolutions No. 33, approved June 8, 1954, No. 45, approved April 28, 1955, and No. 78, approved June 15, 1956, and any other rural markets for farm products hereafter established with other appropriations, and any other agricultural markets hereafter acquired or established. The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to transfer, jointly with said rural markets for farm products and other agricultural markets hereafter acquired or established, the personnel, equipment, supplies, funds, credits, obligations and other appurtenances belonging to such markets.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 239, p. 612, § 3; June 6, 1957, No. 18, p. 43.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter I - Promotion and Development of Agricultural Markets (§§ 101 — 106) › § 103 - Powers of Secretary; creation of Agricultural Marketing Administration

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby empowered to:
(a) Organize within the Department of Agriculture an Agricultural Marketing Administration.
(b) To make scientific researches into agricultural markets and the needs for markets and the facilities for new markets, and for the markets already existing, in and outside Puerto Rico.
(c) To acquire title to or possession in any lawful way of any properties considered necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes hereof; Provided, That this authority shall not extend to the acquisition of market plazas which may be under the administration of municipal governments, unless municipal administrations, in common accord with the Secretary of Agriculture, consent to the sale or lease of said market plazas.
(d) To lease or dispose of the facilities or properties, established or acquired by the Secretary of Agriculture, whenever it may be deemed necessary to carry out the purposes hereof.
(e) To appoint officials, agents and employees and vest in and impose on them the necessary powers and duties for the enforcement hereof.
(f) To carry out the acts necessary or advisable to enforce the powers and duties conferred upon him by §§ 101—105 of this title.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 239, p. 612, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter I - Promotion and Development of Agricultural Markets (§§ 101 — 106) › § 104 - Condemnation powers

Considering that the development and promotion of agricultural markets constitute a public need in Puerto Rico, the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby empowered to exercise the power of condemnation to acquire the properties mentioned in subsection (c) of § 103 of this title and such properties are hereby declared useful and necessary for public purposes, and it is hereby provided that the Secretary shall not apply to the Governor, as provided by the Condemnation Act, §§ 2901—2913 of Title 32, to obtain such declaration, and he may condemn whenever necessary.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 239, p. 612, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter I - Promotion and Development of Agricultural Markets (§§ 101 — 106) › § 105 - Contractual powers

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to enter into cooperation or other agreements or contracts with persons and agencies and instrumentalities of the federal, Commonwealth, or municipal governments whenever he may deem it necessary or useful for the best enforcement of the purposes hereof.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 239, p. 612, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter I - Promotion and Development of Agricultural Markets (§§ 101 — 106) › § 106 - Agricultural Markets Inspection Office; Special Fund

A special fund is hereby created, to be separate and distinct from any other moneys or funds of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, under the custody of the Secretary of Agriculture, in order to institute the Markets Inspection Office, to be known as the “Special Fund of the Markets Inspection Office”.
One hundred percent (100%) of the money charged for product inspection and marketing service fees conducted by this Office, pursuant to the provisions in the regulations promulgated under §§ 121—127 of this title; funds from administrative fines; and funds obtained from fees for licenses issued under the abovementioned regulations, shall be covered into this Fund.
All of the monies of the Fund shall be deposited in the special account held by the Department of Agriculture to deposit the revenues it generates through the cooperative agreement with the Federal Government (96-229-055-04-081). Disbursements shall be made according to the needs of the Agricultural Markets Inspection Office; Provided, That the collections as well as the disbursements shall be made according to the regulations adopted by the Secretary of Agriculture. Disbursements shall not be subject to pre-auditing by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Provided, That for Fiscal Year 2014-2015, eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000) shall be transferred from this Fund to the Legal Liability Fund.
Provided, further, That for Fiscal Year 2015-2016, the sum one million dollars ($1,000,000) in account number 0550000-229-779-2004, or in any other created for the same purposes in the Department of the Treasury’s accounting system shall be transferred from this Fund to the “Special Education Student’s Therapy and Service Fund”, created by Act No. 73-2014.
History —Sept. 18, 1996, No. 237, § 1; Aug. 16, 2012, No. 169, § 1; July 1, 2014, No. 78, § 10; July 2, 2015, No. 105, § 18.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter II - Regulation and Inspection of Farm Markets (§§ 121 — 127) › § 121 - Definitions

The following terms shall have the meanings hereinafter expressed wherever used or referred to in §§ 121—127 of this title, except as otherwise indicated by the context:
(a) Farm market.— Shall mean the place or facilities used for the selling, storing, gathering, classifying, packing, processing, or otherwise handling farm products.
(b) Farm product.— Shall mean all that is obtained from the practice of the farm and cattle industries and of gardening, for the use and consumption of man and domestic animals, including the byproducts thereof, whether fresh or in any way processed, or preserved, as well as the byproducts of the cattle industry in all its branches, including apiculture and aviculture. Said term shall also include sea, freshwater fishing, and game products, and the byproducts of any of them.
(c) Regulations or regulation.— Shall mean the standards and practices promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture for the organized operation of farm markets and marketing operations.
(d) Standard or standardization.— Shall mean such processing, classification, packing, canning, labeling, and presentation standards with regard to farm products as may be established by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(e) Official.— Shall mean the agents and employees of the Department of Agriculture in charge of enforcing the purposes of §§ 121—127 of this title and of seeing that the regulations and standards promulgated and established hereunder are complied with.
(f) Marketing.— Shall mean the possession, storage, use, purchase and sale, assignment, donation, transportation, processing or any other manner of handling of any farm product.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 241, p. 618, § 2; May 14, 1952, No. 445, p. 898, § 1; June 26, 1961, No. 116, p. 254, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter II - Regulation and Inspection of Farm Markets (§§ 121 — 127) › § 122 - Regulations

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to promulgate such general or specific regulations as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of §§ 121—127 of this title and to establish the standardization of farm products for the Commonwealth or export markets.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 241, p. 618, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter II - Regulation and Inspection of Farm Markets (§§ 121 — 127) › § 123 - Standards; research; inspection; assessments

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby empowered:
(a) To promulgate such regulations and establish such standards as in his judgment may be necessary for the best marketing of farm products.
(b) To carry out scientific research to determine the best standards and practices for the regulation of markets and farm products marketing and the standardization of farm products in and outside of Puerto Rico.
(c) To carry out all such functions and activities as may be necessary for the regulation and inspection of farm products and markets.
(d) To prescribe and collect assessments for the inspection of products and marketing services furnished by the Department of Agriculture when in its judgment such assessments should be collected.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 241, p. 618, § 4; May 14, 1952, No. 445, p. 898, § 1; June 26, 1961, No. 116, p. 254, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter II - Regulation and Inspection of Farm Markets (§§ 121 — 127) › § 124 - Enforcement; licenses; inspection; cooperation with other agencies

The Secretary of Agriculture shall have power:
(a) To require that in the marketing of farm products the regulations and standards established by him under subsection (a) of § 123 of this title be complied with.
(b) To appoint officials and vest them with such power, and impose on them such duties as may be necessary for the enforcement of §§ 121—127 of this title.
(c) To require the licensing of all natural or juridical persons engaged in the marketing or the management of facilities for the marketing of farm products, and to fix and collect fees for the licenses issued in accordance with the regulations promulgated for such purpose, and authorized hereby; Provided, That such fees shall be fixed by the Secretary in accordance with the declared volume of business as established by §§ 651—652y of Title 21, known as the Municipal License Tax Act, and said amount shall not be less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250).
(d) To cancel or suspend licenses for the period he may deem necessary, when in his judgment, the person is not complying with the standards and regulations established pursuant to §§ 121—127 of this title, or when said person forcefully assaults, resists, opposes, prevents, intimidates, interferes with, obstructs or hinders an official while performing his/her official duties under §§ 121—127 of this title, or because he/she is performing his/her duties.
(e) To deny licenses when, in his judgment, the applicants therefor do not meet the requirements established by the regulations authorized by §§ 121—127 of this title.
(f) To inspect farm markets and products, and to see to it that in the operation and handling thereof, respectively, §§ 121—127 of this title and the regulations and standards established by him are complied with.
(g) To enter into cooperation and other agreements and contracts, with persons, agencies and instrumentalities of the federal, Commonwealth, or municipal government, wherever he may deem it necessary or useful for the best enforcement of the purposes of §§ 121—127 of this title.
(h) To do all things necessary to achieve the purposes of §§ 121—127 of this title.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 241, p. 618, § 5; Aug. 4, 1988, No. 151, p. 643, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter II - Regulation and Inspection of Farm Markets (§§ 121 — 127) › § 124a - Inspections and requirements of the Secretary

The Secretary of Agriculture or his authorized representative are hereby authorized to:
(a) Detain or inspect any person or means of transportation or shipment that arrives in Puerto Rico from any outside source, as long as he is identified as such and without the need of a search warrant, whenever, in the judgment of the Secretary of Agriculture or his authorized representative, there is probable cause to believe that said persons or means of transportation or shipment, transports, carries or bears any agricultural product in a manner contrary to any regulations prescribed by virtue of §§ 121—127 of this title.
(b) Require the presentation for inspection of routing slips, manifests, invoices, bill of lading, delivery steps or any other documents related to the farm products that arrive in Puerto Rico from any outside source with the purpose of verifying compliance with §§ 121—127 of this title or any regulations promulgated hereunder. It shall be mandatory for the person in charge of such documents to make them accessible to the inspectors for the purpose indicated above.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 241, p. 619, added as § 5A on Aug. 4, 1988, No. 151, p. 643, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter II - Regulation and Inspection of Farm Markets (§§ 121 — 127) › § 125 - Duties of Secretary

It shall be the duty of the Secretary of Agriculture:
(a) To publish all regulations and standards in two (2) or more newspapers of general circulation, at least thirty (30) days prior to the effectiveness thereof.
(b) To notify the interested person, by letter or otherwise, and after an opportunity to be heard, his refusal to grant him a license to engage in the marketing of farm products, or the suspension or cancellation of the license previously granted to him.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 241, p. 618, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter II - Regulation and Inspection of Farm Markets (§§ 121 — 127) › § 126 - Penalties

Any natural or juridical person who fails to comply with the provisions of §§ 121—127 of this title or with all or part of any standard or regulation established by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the provisions of §§ 121—127 of this title, shall incur a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished with a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200) for the first conviction; and with a fine of not less than two hundred [dollars] ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each subsequent violation; Provided, That any farm product or container, packaging or labeling material for it, not in accord with the regulations or standards promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture, and which has been subject to a detention order, may be seized if its owner or handler fails to proceed as set forth in § 125a of this title and, in such case, the farm products, containers, or their packaging or labeling materials that are appropriate for the use of municipal or Commonwealth hospitals shall be sent to them whenever it is possible and convenient, and those that are not sent to hospitals will be sold at public auction, destroyed or used for purposes other than human consumption; Provided, That in cases of violations of § 125a of this title, the administrative fine that the Secretary of Agriculture may impose shall be of up to two hundred dollars ($200) for the first time and up to five hundred dollars ($500) subsequently. When any farm product has been marketed in Puerto Rico in violation of any regulations promulgated under §§ 121—127 of this title without it having been inspected by officials of the Department of Agriculture and without payment of the inspection fees established through regulations for that product, the owner or consignee of the farm product thus marketed shall be obliged to pay the corresponding inspection fees in addition to being subject to the penalties provided by §§ 121—127 of this title.
The Secretary of Agriculture is hereby empowered to impose administrative fines up to the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) for the first violation and up to ten thousand [dollars] ($10,000) for any subsequent violation when it is found that the provisions of §§ 121—127 of this title or the regulations or standards promulgated thereunder have not been complied with.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 241, p. 618, § 7; June 26, 1961, No. 116, p. 254, § 4; June 13, 1964, No. 48, p. 112, § 2; May 1, 1980, No. 24, p. 74; Aug. 4, 1988, No. 151, p. 643, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 5 - Agricultural Marketing (§§ 101 — 127) › Subchapter II - Regulation and Inspection of Farm Markets (§§ 121 — 127) › § 127 - Inclusion in budget

The Legislature of Puerto Rico shall include annually in the General Budgetary Act the sums it may deem necessary for the enforcement of the purposes of §§ 121—127 of this title.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 241, p. 618, § 8, eff. 90 days after May 8, 1950.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 6 - Organic Products Act (§§ 131 — 141) › § 131 - Definitions

The following terms shall have the meanings indicated below, wherever they are used:
(1) Organic agricultural product. — Shall mean [all] those that are obtained from the practice of agricultural and gardening activities for the consumption and use of human beings and domestic animals, including their derived products, whether fresh or in any form of processing or preservation; as well as products derived from livestock activities in any of its forms, including apiculture and aviculture that are produced organically, and which are processed, packed, transported and stored to retain the maximum nutritive value without the use of artificial preservatives, coloring, and other additives, pursuant to this chapter.
(2) Certified organic farm. — Shall mean any farm or part thereof, or place where organic agricultural and livestock products are produced, which is certified under this chapter as using an organic agricultural system as described in the chapter.
(3) Marketing. — Shall mean the possession, storage, use, purchase and sale, cession, donation, transportation, processing, or any form of handling of any organic a[gr]icultural product.
(4) Organic farming. — Shall mean a system of soil management based on the construction of levels of humus through crop rotation, recycling of organic waste, and the application of organic amendments to the earth and which uses, when necessary, biological or mechanical controls with a minimum adverse effect on the health and the environment.
(5) Producer. — Shall mean any person who is involved in the farming or production of organic agricultural products.
(6) Processor. — Shall mean any person, in Puerto Rico or abroad, who manufactures, packs, or repacks, or otherwise produces or processes organic agricultural products for sale or distribution in Puerto Rico.
(7) Labels. — Shall mean any written, printed or engraved material that appears on a package or container in which an organic product is distributed or which is otherwise included with such products.
(8) Secretary. — Shall mean the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
(9) Person. — Shall mean any individual, partnership, association, cooperative union, corporation, or any other legal organization form.
(10) Department. — Shall mean the Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(11) Organic plan. — Shall mean a plan for the administration of an organic farm approved by the producer or manager and the certifying agent, which includes written plans regarding all aspects of the agricultural production or management of the farm.
(12) Organic producer certification program. — Shall mean a program that meets the legally established requirements in the law and is approved by the Secretary, designed to guarantee products sold or labeled as produced and managed using organic methods.
(13) Certifying agent. — Shall mean an independent person to whom the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture has issued a license to act as such.
History —Sept. 2, 2003, No. 228, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 6 - Organic Products Act (§§ 131 — 141) › § 132 - Regulations

The Department of Agriculture is hereby authorized to adopt regulations to put into effect the provisions of this chapter. The regulations thus promulgated shall establish a collection scheme for the filing of applications for certification and fees for the issuing of said certification.
The Secretary, at his/her discretion, may fix a charge of 1% of the sale of every organic product to thus defray the cost of the creation and operation of the program implemented hereby. A special fund is created to be used by the Department of Agriculture for the purposes set forth herein.
History —Sept. 2, 2003, No. 228, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 6 - Organic Products Act (§§ 131 — 141) › § 133 - Certification program for organic products

(1) The Department shall certify the producers, processors, handlers, and any other person involved in the marketing of organic agricultural products produced by organic means.
(2) Any person who requests or renews a certification as an organic producer shall submit the corresponding application to the Department with a non reimbursable fee established by the Department.
(3) Any person who files a late application shall pay an additional charge established by regulations.
(4) A person who is certified as a producer pursuant to this chapter shall have a copy of said certification available for inspection at the organic farm, and any person engaged in marketing, certification or processing shall have a copy of the certification in the main building of their business or commercial establishment.
History —Sept. 2, 2003, No. 228, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 6 - Organic Products Act (§§ 131 — 141) › § 134 - Advisory Board

An Advisory Board is hereby created, attached to the Department of Agriculture, to advise the Secretary in matters pertaining to the ministerial duties and responsibilities under this chapter. Said Board shall be appointed by the Secretary and shall be composed of five (5) members. This Board shall consist of a representative of the producers of organic products, a retailer of organic products, a representative of the consumers, a representative of the Agricultural Sciences Association and a representative of the public interest, who shall serve on the Board ad honorem. Each group shall submit three (3) candidates, to the consideration of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, of whom one shall be selected for each group. It shall also be the responsibility of the Secretary or his/her authorized representative, to designate the Chairperson of said Board. Three (3) of the members shall be designated for a term of three (3) years and two (2) for a term of two (2) years.
The Secretary shall establish regulations for the operations of the Board.
History —Sept. 2, 2003, No. 228, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 6 - Organic Products Act (§§ 131 — 141) › § 135 - Organic products certifier—Registration program

The Department of Agriculture may register a person as a certifier of organic products who shall submit an application to the Secretary along with a fee to be established through regulations. To be accredited as an organic certifier, the person shall show that he/she has sufficient expertise in organic agriculture or organic products processing techniques, as determined by the Secretary through regulations, and shall also meet the requirements established below.
History —Sept. 2, 2003, No. 228, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 6 - Organic Products Act (§§ 131 — 141) › § 136 - Organic products certifier—Requirements

A certifier shall use a sufficient number of inspectors to implement the certification program, as determined through regulations. The certifier shall also keep a register of all activities pursuant to this chapter for a term of not less than ten years, which shall not be disclosed to third parties, except to the Secretary or the officials of the Department. These registries shall be delivered to the Department in case of death, dissolution, or loss of accreditation due to noncompliance. An authorized certifier of organic products shall not have a conflict of interest with operation he/she certifies, accept any type of gift or emolument, or provide assessment related to organic practices for any compensation, except what is established by the Secretary through regulations.
History —Sept. 2, 2003, No. 228, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIVE - Agriculture (§§ 1 — 4706) › Chapter 6 - Organic Products Act (§§ 131 — 141) › § 137 - Secretary and the products certifiers—Duties

The Secretary or the authorized certifiers shall perform annual inspections at organic farm sites, processing installations, or organic agricultural products marketing businesses, and shall perform periodic residue tests on organic products produced in organic farms and processed through authorized organic processors, to determine that products do not contain pesticides or any other nonorganic or natural toxic residue.
History —Sept. 2, 2003, No. 228, § 9.