{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-business-regulation-19-303","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Business Regulation § 19–303","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) A person may register:\n(i) a class of returnable containers if:\n1. the person owns or deals in goods handled or delivered in a returnable container; and\n2. the returnable container has an identifying name, mark, or device securely attached, impressed, or imprinted; or\n(ii) a class of returnable textiles, if the person:\n1. is in the business of regularly supplying clean laundered returnable textiles; and\n2. periodically exchanges the clean returnable textiles for soiled returnable textiles.\n(2) A person who has registered a returnable container or returnable textile under State law is not required to reregister the returnable container or returnable textile.\n(b) To register a returnable container or returnable textile a person shall:\n(1) (i) prepare a clear statement of the character of the returnable container or returnable textile; and\n(ii) prepare a comprehensive description of the identifying name, mark, or device attached, impressed, imprinted, woven, or produced;\n(2) sign and acknowledge the comprehensive description before an officer qualified to take an acknowledgment to deeds in the State;\n(3) publish the signed and acknowledged comprehensive description:\n(i) in two successive issues, in different weeks, of a newspaper published in the county in which the principal office, place of business, or agency of the person is located; or\n(ii) twice a week for 2 successive weeks in a daily newspaper published in Baltimore City if the principal office, place of business, or agency of the person is located in Baltimore City; and\n(4) file with the Secretary of State the comprehensive description and a certificate of publication, certified by the owner or manager of the newspaper in which the comprehensive description was published.\n(c) A person may transfer a registration by filing a copy of the assignment or transfer with the Secretary of State.\n(d) (1) The Secretary of State shall record each:\n(i) comprehensive description filed under subsection (b) of this section;\n(ii) certificate of publication filed under subsection (b) of this section; and\n(iii) transfer filed under subsection (c) of this section.\n(2) On application, the Secretary of State shall provide to the applicant a certified copy of a recorded filing.\n(3) The Secretary of State shall establish reasonable fees:\n(i) for recording under this section; and\n(ii) for providing copies of records filed under this section.\n(e) A certified copy of a comprehensive description and a certificate of publication or of a transfer with the seal of the Secretary of State attached is:\n(1) evidence that the person complied with this subtitle; and\n(2) prima facie evidence of:\n(i) title to or right to use, collect, or deliver the corresponding returnable containers; and\n(ii) title to the corresponding returnable textiles.","path":["Article - Business Regulation"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gbr\u0026section=19-303","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:56:23Z","sha256":"c1979a1b23c1dcfdf86b4ab236d780917ddc3e6ecd47b5c61ea8eb925038061d","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-business-regulation-19-302","next":"us-md/md.-code-business-regulation-19-304"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}