Code of Alabama - Title 2: Agriculture - Chapter 17 - Meat and Poultry Inspection

• Section 2-17-1 Definitions
  When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) COMMISSIONER. The Commissioner of...
• Section 2-17-2 Legislative findings of fact and declaration of policy; purpose and construction of chapter generally; adoption and promulgation of regulations promulgated under certain federal acts
  (a) Meat and meat food products are an important source of the nation's total supply of food. It is essential to the public interest that...
• Section 2-17-3 Cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, etc., to be inspected prior to slaughter; diseased cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, etc., to be separately slaughtered; examination and inspection of carcasses of slaughtered animals generally
  (a) For the purpose of preventing the use in intrastate commerce, as provided in this chapter, of meat and meat food products which are adulterated,...
• Section 2-17-4 Examination, inspection and labeling of carcasses, etc., of slaughtered cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, etc.; reinspection of carcasses, etc.; destruction of adulterated and condemned carcasses, etc.; removal of inspectors from establishments failing to destroy same
  For the purposes set forth in Section 2-17-3, the commissioner shall cause to be made by inspectors appointed for that purpose, as provided in this...
• Section 2-17-5 Applicability of provisions as to inspection and examination of carcasses, etc.; limitation of entry of carcasses, etc., into establishments inspected under chapter
  (a) The provisions of Sections 2-17-3 and 2-17-4 shall apply to all carcasses or parts of carcasses of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules and...
• Section 2-17-6 Inspection not to be provided at establishments for slaughter or preparation of cattle, sheep, poultry, carcasses, etc., not intended for use as human food; denaturation or identification thereof prior to offer for sale or transportation; purchase, transportation of carcasses, meat food products or poultry food products not intended for use as human food and not denatured, identified, etc
  (a) Inspection shall not be provided under this chapter at any establishment for the slaughter of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines...
• Section 2-17-7 Registration of persons, firms, etc., buying, selling, transporting, etc., dead, dying, disabled, diseased, etc., cattle, sheep, poultry, carcasses, etc
  No person, firm or corporation shall engage in business in or for intrastate commerce as a meat broker, renderer or animal food manufacturer or engage...
• Section 2-17-8 Persons, firms, etc., buying, selling, transporting, etc., dead, dying, disabled, diseased, etc., cattle, sheep, poultry, etc., to comply with regulations of commissioner for prevention of use of same for human food purposes
  No person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of buying, selling or transporting in intrastate commerce, dead, dying, disabled or diseased animals or any...
• Section 2-17-9 Examination, inspecting and labeling, etc., of meat food products and poultry food products; destruction of condemned meat food products and poultry food products; removal of inspectors from establishments failing to destroy same
  For the purposes set forth in Section 2-17-3, the commissioner shall cause to be made by inspectors appointed for that purpose an examination and inspection...
• Section 2-17-10 Labeling of cans, pots, etc., containing meat, meat food products, or poultry food products; misbranding of products, or poultry food products; misbranding of carcasses, etc.; establishment of definitions and standards; use of false or misleading names, labeling, etc
  (a) When any meat or meat food product or poultry food product prepared for intrastate commerce which has been inspected as provided in this chapter...
• Section 2-17-11 Inspection of sanitary conditions in slaughtering and processing establishments; commissioner to refuse to allow marking, stamping, etc., of meat food products, poultry food products in establishments where sanitary conditions adulterate meat food products, poultry food products, etc
  The commissioner shall cause to be made by experts in sanitation or by other competent inspectors such inspection of all slaughtering, meat canning, salting, packing,...
• Section 2-17-12 Inspection of cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, etc., slaughtered and prepared in slaughtering and processing establishments; assignment of inspectors and designation of days and hours when slaughtering and processing to be done
  (a) The commissioner shall cause an examination and inspection of all cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules and other equines and poultry and the food...
• Section 2-17-13 Slaughter, sale, offer for sale, transportation, etc., of animals, carcasses, food products, etc., in violation of provisions of chapter or regulations promulgated by commissioner
  No person, firm or corporation shall, with respect to any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines or poultry or any carcasses, parts...
• Section 2-17-14 Unauthorized casting, printing, etc., of device or label containing official mark or simulation; forgery, unauthorized use, etc., of official devices, marks, etc.; making of false statements in certificates, misrepresentations as to inspections, etc
  (a) No brand manufacturer, printer or other person, firm or corporation shall cast, print, lithograph or otherwise make any device containing any official mark or...
• Section 2-17-15 Sale, offer for sale, transportation, etc., of carcasses, etc., of horses, mules, etc., not marked, labeled, etc., to show derivation as required by regulations of commissioner; horses, mules, etc., to be prepared in facilities separated from those in which cattle, sheep, swine, etc., slaughtered or prepared
  (a) No person, firm or corporation shall sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation or receive for transportation in intrastate commerce any carcasses of horses,...
• Section 2-17-16 Commissioner to appoint inspectors; duties of inspectors; inspections and examinations to be made in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by commissioner
  The commissioner shall appoint from time to time inspectors to make examination and inspection of all cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules and other equines...
• Section 2-17-18 Detention of carcasses, meat food products, poultry food products, etc., believed to be adulterated or misbranded, etc.; removal of official marks therefrom prior to release
  Whenever any carcass, part of a carcass, meat or meat food product of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines or carcass or...
• Section 2-17-19 Condemnation proceedings generally; disposition of condemned animals or articles; payment of costs, fees and expenses, etc
  (a) Any carcass, part of a carcass, meat or meat food product or poultry food product of any of the animals or birds subject to...
• Section 2-17-20 Refusal or withdrawal of inspection as to establishments deemed unfit to engage in business because of convictions based upon acquisition, distribution, etc., of unwholesome, mislabeled or deceptively packaged food, etc.; appeals from determination and order of commissioner
  The commissioner may for such period or indefinitely, as he deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter, refuse to provide or withdraw inspection...
• Section 2-17-21 Promulgation, approval, adoption, amendment, etc., of regulations for implementation of chapter generally; issuance, etc., of temporary orders of commissioner
  Wherever in this chapter it is provided that regulations may or shall be promulgated by the commissioner or that any activity or procedure may be...
• Section 2-17-22 Promulgation of regulations as to storage and handling of carcasses, meats, etc
  The commissioner may by regulations prescribe conditions under which carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat and meat food products and poultry and poultry food products capable...
• Section 2-17-23 Classes of persons, firms, etc., required to maintain records; examination, etc., of records, facilities and inventories
  (a) The following classes of persons, firms and corporations shall keep such records as willfully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in their business: (1)...
• Section 2-17-24 Conduct of investigations and requirement of reports as to organization, business, practices, etc., of persons, firms, etc., engaged in intrastate commerce by commissioner; access to copying, etc., of documentary evidence; powers of commissioner as to witnesses generally; issuance of subpoenas and orders for taking of depositions; enforcement of subpoenas and orders of commissioner, etc., generally; fees of witnesses, etc.; witnesses not to be excused from testifying on grounds of self-incrimination; immunity from prosecution of witnesses as to matters, etc., upon which compelled to testify
  (a) The commissioner shall also have power: (1) To gather and compile information concerning and to investigate from time to time the organization, business, conduct,...
• Section 2-17-25 Designation and powers of commissioner as state agency for cooperating with Secretary of Agriculture; jurisdiction of commissioner exclusive as to activities covered by chapter; cooperation with other governmental branches and agencies
  (a) The commissioner is hereby designated as the state agency which shall be responsible for cooperating with the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States...
• Section 2-17-26 Meat and Poultry Inspection Advisory Council
  Repealed by Act 2015-70 effective April 21, 2015.
• Section 2-17-27 Exemption of certain activities from provisions of chapter by commissioner; applicability of certain provisions of chapter
  (a) The commissioner shall, by regulation and under such conditions as to sanitary standards, practices, procedures and reasonable volume limitations as he may prescribe, exempt...
• Section 2-17-28 Exemption of meat, etc., inspected and passed by United States Department of Agriculture
  Any meat or meat food products or poultry or poultry food products which have been inspected and passed by inspectors of the United States Department...
• Section 2-17-29 Applicability of chapter to persons, firms, etc., regulated under federal Meat Inspection Act and federal Poultry Products Inspection Act
  The requirements of this chapter shall apply to persons, firms, corporations, establishments, animals and articles regulated under the federal Meat Inspection Act or the federal...
• Section 2-17-30 Jurisdiction and prosecution of injunctive proceedings under chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder
  The circuit courts of the several counties of this state are vested with jurisdiction specifically to enforce and to prevent and restrain violations of this...
• Section 2-17-31 Admissibility of evidence of violations of chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder in civil actions for damages against persons, firms, etc., subject thereto
  It shall be competent evidence in any civil action brought for damages against any person, firm or corporation regulated by this chapter to prove that...
• Section 2-17-32 Interference with person engaged in performance of official duties under chapter, etc
  Any person who forceably assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates or interferes with any person while engaged in or on account of the performance of his...
• Section 2-17-33 Failure to attend and testify, answer lawful inquiry or produce documentary evidence in obedience to subpoena, etc., of commissioner
  Any person, firm or corporation that shall neglect or refuse to attend and testify or to answer any lawful inquiry or to produce documentary evidence,...
• Section 2-17-34 Making, etc., of false statements or entries in reports, accounts, etc.; mutilation, alteration, etc., of documentary evidence, etc
  Any person, firm or corporation that shall willfully make or cause to be made any false entry or statement of fact in any report required...
• Section 2-17-35 Forfeiture by persons, firms, etc., upon failure to file annual or special reports as required by commissioner
  If any person, firm or corporation required by this chapter to file any annual or special report shall fail so to do within the time...
• Section 2-17-36 Disclosure by state officer or employee of information obtained by commissioner without proper authority
  Any officer or employee of this state who shall make public any information obtained by the commissioner without proper authority, unless directed by a court,...
• Section 2-17-37 Penalties for violations of chapter; commissioner not required to report minor violations of chapter for prosecution, etc
  (a) Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provision of this chapter for which no other criminal penalty is provided by this chapter shall,...
• Section 2-17-38 Construction of chapter
  The provisions of this chapter are cumulative with and shall not be construed as to repeal or supersede Sections 20-1-2, 20-1-20, 20-1-21, 20-1-22, 20-1-25, and...

Last modified: May 3, 2021