(1)    No person may sell or offer for sale, or move, transport, deliver, ship or offer for shipment, any pest, as defined in s. 93.01 (10) or any biological control agent as defined in sub. (2), without a permit as prescribed by rules of the department. Such rules may provide for reasonable exemptions from permit requirements. Permits may be issued only after the department determines that the proposed shipment or use will not create sufficient hazard to warrant refusal of a permit. Permits shall be affixed to the outside of every shipping container or accompany the shipment as the department directs.

   (2)   The department may by rule regulate and control the sale and use of biological control agents to assure their safety and effectiveness in the control of injurious pests and to prevent the introduction or use of biological control agents which may be injurious to persons or property or useful plant or animal life. The term “biological control agent” as used in this section means any living organism which because of its parasitic, predatory or other biological characteristics may be effective for use in the suppression or control of pests by biological rather than chemical means.