Section 2-7-20. Declaration of quarantine; violation unlawful

   (a) The Commissioner may declare a quarantine against any area, place, nursery, grove, orchard, county, or counties within this state, other states, or territories of the United States or any portion thereof or any foreign country, in reference to dangerous plant pests and may prohibit the movement within this state or any part thereof or the introduction into this state from other states or territories of the United States or any foreign country of all plants, plant products, or other things or substances from such quarantined places or areas as are likely to carry dangerous plant pests, if such quarantine is determined by the Commissioner, after due investigation, to be necessary in order to protect the agricultural, horticultural, or other interests of this state. In such cases the quarantine may be made absolute or rules and regulations may be adopted prescribing the method and manner under which the prohibited articles may be moved into or within, sold, or otherwise disposed of within or outside the state.

(b) Whenever the Commissioner declares a quarantine against any place, nursery, grove, orchard, county, or counties of the state or against other states or territories of the United States or any foreign country, as to a dangerous plant pest, it shall be unlawful thereafter until such quarantine is removed for any person to introduce into this state or to move, sell, or otherwise dispose of within this state any plant, plant produce, or other things included in such quarantine, except under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Commissioner.

Ga. L. 1937, p. 659, §§ 4, 13; Ga. L. 1996, p. 329, § 13.