7121 - Enforcement and penalties.
§ 7121. Enforcement and penalties. (a) Criminal penalties.--Unless otherwise specified, any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or a rule or regulation adopted thereunder or any order issued pursuant thereto: (1) For the first offense, commits a summary offense and may, upon conviction, be sentenced for each offense to pay a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $100 and costs of prosecution or to undergo imprisonment for a term which shall be fixed at not more than 90 days, or both. (2) For a subsequent offense committed within three years of a prior conviction for any violation of this chapter or any rule, regulation or order made under this chapter, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution or to imprisonment for not more than two years, or both. (b) Trade secrets.-- (1) Any person who uses to his own advantage or reveals to anyone other than the department, administrative tribunal or the courts, when relevant in any judicial proceeding, any information acquired under the authority of this chapter concerning any method, records, formulations or processes which as a trade secret is entitled to protection under the law commits a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $500 or to imprisonment for not less than one year, or both. (2) This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit the department from exchanging information of a regulatory nature with governmental agencies of this Commonwealth, agencies of the Federal Government or any other state to implement the provisions of this chapter. (c) Civil penalties.-- (1) In addition to any other remedy available at law or in equity for a violation of this chapter, the department may assess a civil penalty of not more than $2,500 upon a person for each violation of this chapter. The civil penalty assessed shall be payable to the department and shall be collectible in any manner provided by law for the collection of debt. (2) No civil penalty shall be assessed unless the person assessed the penalty has been given notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the assessment in accordance with section 7115 (relating to appeal process). (d) Certified copy of official analysis.--In prosecution under this chapter involving the composition of a lot of seed, a certified copy of the official analysis signed by the secretary or his designee shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of the composition. (e) De minimis violations.--Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the department to report a violation and to institute seizure proceedings as a result of de minimis violations of this chapter when the department concludes that the public interest will be best served by a suitable notice of warning in writing.