F.S. Ch. 504 — SPECIALIZED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT LABELING | Florida Statutes — Florida

F.S. 504.011 Short title.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Produce Labeling Act of 1979.”

F.S. 504.012 Label marking permitted; removal prohibited.

(1) All producers, growers, and shippers of fresh fruits and vegetables and bee pollen and honey in this state shall be permitted to mark each individual fruit or vegetable, package of bee pollen, or package of honey in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the fruit or vegetable, package of bee pollen, or package of honey will permit, in such manner as to indicate to an ultimate purchaser that the product was produced in Florida. Any fresh fruit or vegetable, package of bee pollen, or package of honey, including any package containing foreign honey blended with domestic honey, produced in any country other than the United States and offered for retail sale in Florida shall be marked individually in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the fruit or vegetable, package of bee pollen, or package of honey will permit, in such manner as to indicate to an ultimate purchaser the country of origin. Markings shall be done prior to delivery into Florida. (2) All retail vendors engaged in the business of selling products labeled or identified as to origin shall be prohibited from willfully and knowingly removing such labels or identifying marks.

F.S. 504.013 Penalties.

Any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of the retail vending of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, bee pollen, or honey who willfully and knowingly removes any labels or identifying marks from fruits, vegetables, bee pollen, or honey so labeled is guilty of a noncriminal violation as defined in s. 775.08(3) and upon conviction shall be punished as provided in s. 775.082(5) by a civil fine of not more than $500.

F.S. 504.014 Enforcement.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions of this chapter.