80-9-206. Inspection fees -- filing of annual statement. - Montana Statutes

     80-9-206. Inspection fees -- filing of annual statement. (1) An inspection fee must be paid on all commercial feeds, including customer formula feeds, except pet foods and specialty pet foods, distributed in this state as follows:
     (a) The feed manufacturer has primary responsibility for paying inspection fees. However, the distributor is responsible for inspection fees if the manufacturer has not paid them.
     (b) Except as provided in this subsection (1)(b), the inspection fee is 18 cents a ton. Inspection fees must be paid on each commercial feed, including customer formula feeds and feed ingredients that are defined as commercial feeds even though they are used in the manufacture of other commercial feeds. However, premixes prepared and used within a feed plant or transferred from one plant to another within the same organization are exempt. The department may by rule adjust the inspection fee to maintain adequate funding for the administration of this part. The fee may not be less than 18 cents a ton or more than 25 cents a ton.
     (c) A person producing a commercial feed with a feed mixing plant at a feed lot or a poultry, swine, or dairy operation may not be required to pay inspection fees on the commercial feeds produced and used in the feeding operation at the site, but is responsible for any unpaid inspection fees on commercial feed purchased by that person and on any commercial feed that person produces and distributes other than in that person's feeding operations at the site.
     (2) Each person who holds a license as required in 80-9-201(1) shall:
     (a) file, not later than January 31 of each year, an annual statement setting forth the number of tons of commercial feeds distributed in this state during the preceding calendar year and, upon filing the statement, shall pay the inspection fee. Inspection fees that have not been remitted to the department on or before January 31 have a penalty fee of 10% or a minimum of $10, whichever is more, added to the amount due. The assessment of this penalty fee does not prevent the department from taking other action as provided in this chapter.
     (b) keep those records that are necessary or are required by the department to indicate accurately the tonnage of commercial feed distributed in this state. The department may examine the records to verify statements of tonnage.
     (c) make accurate and prompt reports as required. Failure to do so is sufficient cause for the department to cancel or refuse to reissue a license.

     History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 356, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 3-2032; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 38, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 56, Ch. 16, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 396, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 37, L. 2005.