HARRY HUGHES, Governor

51

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Agriculture
Section 7-207 and 7-208
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1974 Volume and 1980 Supplement)

Preamble

In recognition of the unique problems associated with
the marketing of tobacco by auction, the General Assembly
finds that disorderly market conditions occur during the
tobacco auction market season. Disorderly market conditions
cause buyers to withdraw from tobacco sales. This reduces
competition and tends to result in lower prices for the
farmer. Tobacco buyers will withdraw from the auction
market when their packers are "blocked up", or unable to dry
or process tobacco for shipment. This condition can be
corrected by reducing the level of sales by quota for each
licensed commission selling agency. The General Assembly
therefore has determined that the Authority should determine
and allocate annually among commission selling agencies
daily sales quotas to prevent a disorderly market during the
tobacco auction market season.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article - Agriculture

7-207.

(A) The Authority shall:

(1)  Prescribe the conditions under which baskets
of leaf tobacco may be arranged and displayed on the sales
floor of any leaf warehouse;

(2)  Prescribe the terms and conditions under
which baskets of leaf tobacco may be withdrawn from the
sales floor of any private warehouse;

(3)  Determine the data or information that may
be placed on the tickets of baskets of leaf tobacco on the
sales floor of any private warehouse;

(4)  Make inspections from time to time or upon
request of any interested party in order to determine the
accuracy of any weights or measures used by any commission
selling agency; and

(5)  Regulate or prohibit the intentional tearing
up of baskets on the warehouse floor by the buyer.