Tennessee § 53-1-206 - Contamination of food with micro-organisms — Permit regulations — Inspections.

§ 53-1-206. Contamination of food with micro-organisms — Permit regulations — Inspections.

Whenever the commissioner finds, after investigation, that the distribution in this state of any class of food may, by reason of contamination with micro-organisms during manufacturing, processing or packing of the food in any locality, be injurious to health, and that the injurious nature cannot be adequately determined after the articles have entered commerce, the commissioner then, and in that case only, shall promulgate regulations providing for the issuance, to manufacturers, processors or packers of that class of food in that locality, of a permit to which shall be attached conditions governing the manufacturing, processing or packing of the class of food, for a temporary period of time, that may be necessary to protect the public health; and after the effective date of the regulations, and during the temporary period, no person shall introduce or deliver for introduction into commerce any such food manufactured, processed or packed by any such manufacturer, processor or packer unless the manufacturer, processor or packer holds a permit issued by the commissioner as provided by the regulations. The commissioner is authorized to suspend immediately, upon notice, any permit issued under authority of this section if it is found that any of the conditions of the permit have been violated. The holder of a permit so suspended shall be privileged at any time to apply for the reinstatement of the permit, and the commissioner shall, immediately after prompt hearing and an inspection of the establishment, reinstate the permit if it is found that adequate measures have been taken to comply with and maintain the conditions of the permit, as originally issued, or as amended. Any officer or employee duly designated by the commissioner shall have access to any factory or establishment, the operator of which holds a permit from the commissioner, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the conditions of the permit are being complied with, and denial of access for the inspection shall be grounds for suspension of the permit until access is freely given by the operator. Acts 1941, ch. 120, § 12; C. Supp. 1950, § 6580.12; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 52-112.