{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/28.2-532.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/28.2-532.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/28.2-532.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/28.2-532.html"}],"law_id":356680,"edition_id":2,"section_id":356680,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-532","catch_line":"Protection of oysters and clams of Virginia; labeling; penalty","history":"1962, c. 406, \u00a7 28.1-140; 1964, c. 393; 1992, c. 836; 1996, c. 434.","full_text":"It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, sell or distribute for direct consumption oysters or clams as Virginia oysters or clams unless such oysters and clams have been in the waters of the Commonwealth or the Potomac River for a period of at least six months.\n\nAny oysters or clams imported into Virginia, either shucked or unshucked, when sold or distributed, shall not be designated or labeled in any manner indicating they came from Virginia waters or that they are Virginia oysters or clams.\n\nThe name, address and Department of Health certificate number on the package or container of the packer or distributor shall not be considered illegal designation or labeling.\n\nA violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1327824,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, sell or distribute for direct consumption oysters or clams as Virginia oysters or clams unless such oysters and clams have been in the waters of the Commonwealth or the Potomac River for a period of at least six months.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1327825,"text":"Any oysters or clams imported into Virginia, either shucked or unshucked, when sold or distributed, shall not be designated or labeled in any manner indicating they came from Virginia waters or that they are Virginia oysters or clams.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1327826,"text":"The name, address and Department of Health certificate number on the package or container of the packer or distributor shall not be considered illegal designation or labeling.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"3":{"id":1327827,"text":"A violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":51050,"edition_id":2,"name":"Fishing for Oysters and Clams; Device Restrictions","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":51048,"metadata":{"child_laws":32,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:28","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:44","permalink":{"id":1418245,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51050,"identifier":"2","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2","url":"\/28.2\/II\/5\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51048,"edition_id":2,"name":"Oysters and Clams","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":4,"parent_id":50998,"metadata":{"child_laws":62,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:44","permalink":{"id":1418217,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51048,"identifier":"5","token":"28.2\/II\/5","url":"\/28.2\/II\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50998,"edition_id":2,"name":"Tidal Fisheries","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50994,"metadata":{"child_laws":289,"child_structures":42},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:05","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:42","permalink":{"id":1417675,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50998,"identifier":"II","token":"28.2\/II","url":"\/28.2\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50994,"edition_id":2,"name":"Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters","identifier":"28.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":70,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":386,"child_structures":71},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:05","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:41","permalink":{"id":1417591,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50994,"identifier":"28.2","token":"28.2","url":"\/28.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":356654,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-506","catch_line":"Season for taking oysters from public rocks; penalty","url":"\/28.2-506\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-506","metadata":false},{"id":356655,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-507","catch_line":"Opening and closing public rocks","url":"\/28.2-507\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-507","metadata":false},{"id":356656,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-508","catch_line":"Prohibited area for patent tongs; penalty","url":"\/28.2-508\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-508","metadata":false},{"id":356657,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-509","catch_line":"Maximum weight for patent tongs; teeth length; penalty","url":"\/28.2-509\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-509","metadata":false},{"id":356658,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-510","catch_line":"Buying, selling, or possessing unculled oysters; penalty","url":"\/28.2-510\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-510","metadata":false},{"id":356659,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-511","catch_line":"Culling oysters; penalty","url":"\/28.2-511\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-511","metadata":false},{"id":356660,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-512","catch_line":"Interfering with oyster inspections; penalty","url":"\/28.2-512\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-512","metadata":false},{"id":356661,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-513","catch_line":"Prima facie evidence of culling violation; defense","url":"\/28.2-513\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-513","metadata":false},{"id":356662,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-514","catch_line":"Possession of shucked oysters; penalty","url":"\/28.2-514\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-514","metadata":false},{"id":356663,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-515","catch_line":"Dredging or scraping on private ground; permit required","url":"\/28.2-515\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-515","metadata":false},{"id":356664,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-516","catch_line":"Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat; penalty","url":"\/28.2-516\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-516","metadata":false},{"id":356665,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-517","catch_line":"Marking ground","url":"\/28.2-517\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-517","metadata":false},{"id":356666,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-518","catch_line":"Dredging for oysters in James River; penalty","url":"\/28.2-518\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-518","metadata":false},{"id":356667,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-519","catch_line":"Use of rakes or scrapes on ocean side of Eastern Shore; penalty","url":"\/28.2-519\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-519","metadata":false},{"id":356668,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-520","catch_line":"Use of hydraulic dredges prohibited; exceptions; penalty","url":"\/28.2-520\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-520","metadata":false},{"id":356669,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-521","catch_line":"Revocation of license or permit to dredge","url":"\/28.2-521\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-521","metadata":false},{"id":356670,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-522","catch_line":"Prima facie evidence of violation","url":"\/28.2-522\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-522","metadata":false},{"id":356671,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-523","catch_line":"Penalty","url":"\/28.2-523\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-523","metadata":false},{"id":356672,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-524","catch_line":"Taking oysters or clams in certain areas; limitations","url":"\/28.2-524\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-524","metadata":false},{"id":356673,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-525","catch_line":"Fishing in Chesapeake Bay immediately west of Tangier Island","url":"\/28.2-525\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-525","metadata":false},{"id":356674,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-526","catch_line":"Oyster measures; standards; penalty","url":"\/28.2-526\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-526","metadata":false},{"id":356675,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-527","catch_line":"Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc.; penalty","url":"\/28.2-527\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-527","metadata":false},{"id":356676,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-528","catch_line":"Revocation of licenses for theft of oysters","url":"\/28.2-528\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-528","metadata":false},{"id":356677,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-529","catch_line":"Converting shells into lime; penalty","url":"\/28.2-529\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-529","metadata":false},{"id":356678,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-530","catch_line":"Taking oysters or loading on vessel on Sunday or at night; penalty","url":"\/28.2-530\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-530","metadata":false},{"id":356679,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-531","catch_line":"Taking clams on Sunday or at night; exception; penalty","url":"\/28.2-531\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-531","metadata":false},{"id":356680,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-532","catch_line":"Protection of oysters and clams of Virginia; labeling; penalty","url":"\/28.2-532\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-532","metadata":false},{"id":356681,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-533","catch_line":"Oysters on crab dredging boat; penalty","url":"\/28.2-533\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-533","metadata":false},{"id":356682,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-534","catch_line":"Possession of oysters while taking clams; penalty","url":"\/28.2-534\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-534","metadata":false},{"id":356683,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-535","catch_line":"Permit to buy or carry seed oysters from certain grounds; penalty","url":"\/28.2-535\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-535","metadata":false},{"id":356684,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-536","catch_line":"Taking clams in certain areas; penalty","url":"\/28.2-536\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-536","metadata":false},{"id":356685,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-537","catch_line":"Restriction on size of clams; penalty","url":"\/28.2-537\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-537","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":356679,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-531","catch_line":"Taking clams on Sunday or at night; exception; penalty","url":"\/28.2-531\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-531","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":356681,"structure_id":51050,"section_number":"28.2-533","catch_line":"Oysters on crab dredging boat; penalty","url":"\/28.2-533\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-533","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/28.2-532\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1962. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 406 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1962 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1964, chapter 393; in 1992, chapter 836; in 1996, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?961+ful+CHAP0434\">434<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1418351,"object_type":"law","relational_id":356680,"identifier":"28.2-532","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-532","url":"\/28.2-532\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/28.2-532\/","token":"28.2\/II\/5\/2\/28.2-532","dublin_core":{"Title":"Protection of oysters and clams of Virginia; labeling; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 28.2-532","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, sell or distribute for direct consumption oysters or clams as Virginia oysters or clams unless such oysters and clams have been in the waters of the Commonwealth or the Potomac River for a period of at least six months.<\/p><p>Any oysters or clams imported into Virginia, either shucked or unshucked, when sold or distributed, shall not be designated or labeled in any manner indicating they came from Virginia waters or that they are Virginia oysters or clams.<\/p><p>The name, address and Department of Health certificate number on the package or container of the packer or distributor shall not be considered illegal designation or labeling.<\/p><p>A violation of this section is a Class 3 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROTECTION OF OYSTERS AND CLAMS OF VIRGINIA; LABELING; PENALTY (\u00a7 28.2-532)\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, sell or distribute for\ndirect consumption oysters or clams as Virginia oysters or clams unless such\noysters and clams have been in the waters of the Commonwealth or the Potomac\nRiver for a period of at least six months.\n\nAny oysters or clams imported into Virginia, either shucked or unshucked, when\nsold or distributed, shall not be designated or labeled in any manner indicating\nthey came from Virginia waters or that they are Virginia oysters or clams.\n\nThe name, address and Department of Health certificate number on the package or\ncontainer of the packer or distributor shall not be considered illegal\ndesignation or labeling.\n\nA violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 1962, c. 406, \u00a7 28.1-140; 1964, c. 393; 1992, c. 836; 1996, c. 434.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}