Office of Marketing, Consumer Services and Animal Industries
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The
Office of Marketing, Animal Industries and Consumer Services includes programs that ensure the wholesomeness and quality of Maryland farm products; safeguard against the introduction and spread of disease that can threaten vital animal industries; promote the production and consumption of Maryland agricultural products; and ensure fairness to consumers in the marketplace. Specific programs include Animal Health, Food Quality Assurance, Marketing and Agricultural Development, Weights and Measures, the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, the Maryland Horse Industry Board and the Maryland Agricultural Fair Board.
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The Animal Health Program prevents and controls infectious and contagious diseases in Maryland livestock and poultry with particular emphasis on those diseases that threaten public health, endanger food supplies or threaten the economic security of the animal industries.
The Food Quality Assurance Program consists of four sections that conduct
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audits, registrations and certifications of agricultural commodities and facilities to provide consumers with safe, high quality agricultural food products while maintaining fair trade practices and enhancing product marketability for the agricultural industry.
Maryland's Best, Maryland’s state-wide marketing program
connecting consumers to fresh and local
Maryland products, works to identify and develop profitable marketing local, national, and international opportunities for Maryland farmers and agricultural producers. The program also serves as a conduit for federal resources and grants as well as for policy information specific to the agricultural sector.
These programs have direct and indirect financial impact on farmers and producers and affect the way they sell their products and develop new buyers.
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The Weights and Measures program directly benefits all Marylanders by ensuring the fairness and equity of all commercial transactions involving determinations of quantity.
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The Board licenses and registers veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, veterinary hospitals, and animal control facilities and enforces the Veterinary Practice Act and related Code of Maryland regulations.
The Board also inspects veterinary hospitals and animal control shelters, provides disciplinary information to other state veterinary boards and the public, and submits licensure verification to other state veterinary boards upon request.
The Board also investigates consumer complaints, initiates its own investigations, and determines whether disciplinary action will be taken against veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, and veterinary hospitals as required by Agriculture Article, §2-301, et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland. Additionally, the Board reviews requests for approval of continuing education credits for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, provides information on the Board to the public through a web page, and works with the Veterinary Technician Committee in setting practice standards for registered veterinary technicians.
Maryland Horse Industry Board
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The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) promotes equestrian activities and the use of horses for recreation through promotional activities that create awareness and visibility for the equine industry, educational and research projects to benefit the equine industry, and developmental efforts, such as job training programs, facilities planning and export marketing to stimulate the growth of the local horse economy.
The Maryland Ag Board fosters agriculture by promoting and assisting agricultural fairs and exhibits. It gives financial aid to qualifying organizations for premium awards to exhibitors of agricultural displays. Annually, the Board issues the Maryland Fair & Show Schedule.
County fairs in Maryland are held in the months of July, August, September, and October. Each year, the Maryland State Fair is held at Timonium in Baltimore County and runs eleven days ending on Labor Day.
