Rhode Island § 21-2-23 - Milk Sanitation Code

§ 21-2-23. Director empowered to make regulations.

(a) The director of health is authorized to promulgate any regulations that are necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter, which shall include, but not be limited to, providing for: (1) standards of identity, labeling requirements, maintaining standards for milk and milk products sold or offered for sale in final package forms; (2) standards for the production, transportation, receiving, handling, storage, processing, distributions, and sale of raw milk for pasteurization and products of raw milk, including all pertinent sanitary standards and uniform minimum requirement for inspection of dairy farms, milk plants and receiving stations; and may in like manner amend, modify or repeal those rules and regulations which shall be consistent with the provisions of the Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance 1978 recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service/Food and Drug Administration, 1983 Revisions, which shall become upon the passage of this act the rules and regulations under this chapter in accordance with § 21-2-2(10).

(b) The adoption and amendment of regulations in the future shall be in accordance with chapter 35 of title 42; provided, that amendments to the Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance adopted by the interstate milk shippers conference shall become a part of the regulations under this chapter. Provided, that a person adversely affected by any regulation may, within thirty (30) days, file with the director, in writing, those objections to a regulation automatically adopted which stays the effect of the regulation. If no substantial objections are received and no hearing is requested within thirty (30) days after publication of a notice of the adoption of a regulation, it shall be effective as of the date it was adopted by the interstate milk shippers conference. When automatic adoption is stayed by a timely objection, the director, after notice, shall conduct a public hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42. The director of health is authorized to adopt any other regulations for milk and other related products that he or she deems necessary in accordance with authority granted under this chapter, chapters 27 and 31 of this title and § 23-1-18(5).

(c) The director shall publish a notice of the adoption in a newspaper having general circulation throughout the state.