§150A-5.5  What constitutes importation. (a)  The landing of any article for the purpose of inspection or quarantineshall not be construed to give the article any status or the owner any rightincident to articles which have actually been passed and allowed into theState.

(b)  In legal effect, articles landed for thepurpose of inspection or quarantine shall be construed to be still outside theState seeking entry, and shall not, in whole or in part, be considered suitablefor entry into the State unless a tag, label, or stamp has been affixed to thearticle, its container, or its delivery order by the inspector as provided insection 150A-5(9), except that articles quarantined in the biocontrolcontainment facilities of the department or of other government agenciesengaged in joint projects with the department may be released upon issuance ofa permit approved by the board.

(c)  Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b),the import of articles in violation of this chapter or rules adopted under thischapter may subject the importer to penalty although the articles have not beenpassed for entry. [L 1985, c 133, §4; am L 1990, c 243, §3; am L 1996, c 153,§3]