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 the health and welfare of consumers be protected by assuring that meat and meat food products distributed to them are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, labeled and packaged. Unwholesome, adulterated or misbranded meat or meat food products are injurious to the public welfare, destroy markets for wholesome, not adulterated and properly labeled and packaged meat and meat food products and result in sundry losses to livestock producers and processors of meat and meat food products as well as injury to consumers. The unwholesome, adulterated, misbranded or deceptively packaged articles can be sold at lower prices and compete unfairly with the wholesome, not adulterated and properly labeled and packaged articles to the detriment of consumers and the public generally. It is hereby found that regulation by the commissioner and cooperation by this state and the United States as contemplated by this chapter are appropriate to protect the health and welfare of consumers and otherwise effectuate the purposes of this chapter; therefore, the intent and purpose of this chapter is to authorize, provide and require a meat and poultry inspection program in this state which will be no less equal to the provisions and requirements of applicable federal laws which authorize and provide for such inspection and related duties in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States as directed under Section 2-17-25. Accordingly, it is hereby intended that this chapter shall be liberally construed and interpreted insofar as possible to be consistent with such declared intent and purpose.

(b) Wherever in this chapter it is provided that regulations or orders may or shall be promulgated by the commissioner with approval of the Board of Agriculture and Industries, such officials are authorized to adopt and promulgate any regulations as may have been or may hereafter be promulgated under authority of the federal Meat Inspection Act and the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, amendments thereto or other appropriate or related federal laws, insofar as possible, to effectuate the purposes of this chapter and to administer and enforce its provisions and requirements.

(Acts 1969, No. 1049, p. 1939, §2; Acts 1971, No. 2252, p. 3622, §3.)