Rhode Island § 4-2-10 - Commercial Feeds

§ 4-2-10. Inspection, sampling, and analysis.

(a) For the purpose of enforcement of this chapter, and in order to determine whether its provisions have been complied with, including whether or not any operations may be subject to those provisions, officers or employees designated by the director, upon presenting appropriate credentials, and a written notice to the owner, operator, or agent in charge, are authorized:

(1) To enter, during normal business hours, any factory, warehouse, or establishment within the state in which commercial feeds are manufactured, processed, packed, or held for distribution, or to enter any vehicle being used to transport or hold those feeds; and

(2) To inspect at reasonable times and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner the factory, warehouse, establishment, or vehicle and all pertinent equipment, finished and unfinished materials, containers, and labeling. The inspection may include the verification of only those records, and production and control procedures as may be necessary to determine compliance with the good manufacturing practice regulations established under § 4-2-9(a).

(b) A separate notice shall be given for each inspection, but a notice shall not be required for each entry made during the period covered by the inspection. Each inspection shall be commenced and completed with reasonable promptness. Upon completion of the inspection, the person in charge of the facility or vehicle shall be so notified.

(c) If the officer or employee making the inspection of a factory, warehouse, or other establishment has obtained a sample in the course of the inspection upon completion of the inspection and prior to leaving the premises he or she shall give to the owner, operator, or agent in charge a receipt describing the samples obtained.

(d) If the owner of any factory, warehouse, or establishment described in subsection (a), or the owner’s agent, refuses to admit the director or the director’s agent to inspect in accordance with subsections (a) and (b), the director is authorized to obtain from the attorney general a warrant directing the owner or the owner’s agent to submit the premises described in the warrant to inspection.

(e) For the purpose of the enforcement of this chapter, the director or the director’s designated agent is authorized to enter upon public or private premises including any vehicle of transport during regular business hours to have access to, and obtain samples, and to examine records relating to distribution of commercial feeds.

(f) Sampling and analysis shall be conducted in accordance with methods published by the association of official analytical chemists, or in accordance with other generally recognized methods.

(g) The results of all analysis of official samples shall be forwarded by the director to the person named on the label and to the purchaser. When the inspection and analysis of an official sample indicates a commercial feed has been adulterated or misbranded and upon request within thirty (30) days following receipt of the analysis the director shall furnish to the registrant a portion of the sample concerned.

(h) The director, in determining for administrative purposes whether a commercial feed is deficient in any component, shall be guided by the official sample as defined in § 4-2-3(13) and obtained and analyzed as provided for in subsections (c), (e), and (f) of this section.