Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food & Markets

Vermont State Executives

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The Vermont Secretary of Agriculture is a state executive position in the Vermont state government. The secretary is responsible for the execution and enforcement of all laws relating to agriculture and standards of weights and measures.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is Chuck Ross.

Authority

The authority of the secretary is established in Title 6, Chapter 1, Section 1 of the Vermont State Codes.

6 V.S.A. § 1:

The agency of agriculture, food and markets shall be administered by a secretary of agriculture, food and markets. The secretary shall supervise and be responsible for the execution and enforcement of all laws relating to agriculture and standards of weight and measure...

Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications to hold this office.

Appointments

The secretary is appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the state senate, to a two-year term.

Duties

The specific duties of the secretary are outlined in Title 6 of the Vermont State Code:

1. delegate any authority, power or duty as necessary for the proper execution of the laws;
2. conduct examinations and pass upon the qualifications of applicants for licenses;
3. conduct routine inspections and investigate suspected violations of any law administered by the secretary;
4. conduct hearings;
5. issue subpoenas and administer oaths in connection with an authorized investigation or hearing;
6. enter into contracts on behalf of the agency;
7. seek and obtain temporary or permanent injunctions to restrain a violation of any law administered by the secretary, whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe that a law has been or will be violated;
8. institute appropriate proceedings in the name of the agency to enforce any law administered by the secretary;
9. apply for and accept grants of money or other gifts on behalf of the agency, subject to 32 V.S.A. { 5;
10. adopt and enforce rules to implement the laws administered by the secretary;
11. accept an assurance of discontinuance in lieu of instituting an action or proceeding for violation of a law administered by the secretary;
12. exercise any other power or authority granted by common law or statute;
13. issue and renew all licenses, permits, registrations, or certificates under a program administered by the secretary for a term of up to three years

Divisions

• Administration
• Agricultural Development
• Agricultural Resource Management and Environmental Stewardship
• Food Safety and Consumer Protection

Compensation

In 2010, the Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food & Markets was paid an estimated $109,387 according to the Council of State Governments.

Contact information

Vermont Agency of Agriculture
116 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05620

• Phone: (802) 828-2430

See also

• Agriculture Commissioner
• Chuck Ross

External links

Suggest a link

• Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

References

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