§ 21-31-12 - Contamination of food with microorganisms – Suspension of permit – Inspection.
SECTION 21-31-12
§ 21-31-12 Contamination of food withmicroorganisms – Suspension of permit – Inspection. – (a) Whenever the director of health finds after investigation that thedistribution in Rhode Island of any class of food may, by reason ofcontamination with microorganisms during manufacture, processing, or packing ofit in any locality, be injurious to health, and that the injurious naturecannot be adequately determined after the articles have entered commerce, itthen, and only in that case, shall promulgate regulations providing for theissuance, to manufacturers, processors, or packers of that class of food in thelocality, of permits to which shall be attached any conditions governing themanufacture, processing, or packing of that class of food, and for anytemporary period of time that may be necessary to protect the public health;and after the effective date of the regulations and during the temporaryperiod, no person shall introduce or deliver for introduction into commercethat food manufactured, processed, or packed by any manufacturer, processor, orpacker unless the manufacturer, processor, or packer holds a permit issued bythe director of health as provided by regulation.
(b) The director of health is authorized to suspendimmediately upon notice any permit issued under authority of this section if itis found that any of the conditions of the permit have been violated. Theholder of a permit suspended shall be privileged at any time to apply for thereinstatement of the permit, and the director of health shall, immediatelyafter a prompt hearing and inspection of the establishment, reinstate thepermit if it is found that adequate measures have been taken to comply with andmaintain the conditions of the permit, as originally issued, or as amended.
(c) Any officer or employee duly designated by the directorof health shall have access to any factory or establishment, the operator ofwhich holds a permit from the director of health, for the purpose ofascertaining whether or not the conditions of the permit are being compliedwith, and denial of access for the inspection shall be ground for suspension ofthe permit until access is freely given by the operator.