What type of sample is drawn by an enforcement officer to determine compliance with the California Seed Law?

The correct answer is the official sample. In the context of enforcement of compliance with the California Seed Law, an official sample is collected by an enforcement officer specifically to check if seed lots meet established legal standards and regulations for quality, labeling, and purity. This kind of sampling is crucial as it is conducted under specific protocols to ensure that the results are accurate and representative. The purpose is to provide a legal basis for enforcement actions if the seed lot fails to meet the requirements set forth in the law.

Other types of samples, such as certification samples, are generally taken for different purposes, such as verifying that seeds are certified according to specific quality standards. Service samples might be collected for general information or educational purposes, while miscellaneous samples may not follow a defined procedure for compliance. Only the official sample has the authority and intent behind it that aligns directly with regulatory compliance efforts.