2006 Minnesota Statutes

31A.23 DETENTION OF ANIMALS OR PRODUCTS.
This section applies to a carcass, part of a carcass, meat, or meat food product of an animal, a
product exempted from the definition of a meat food product, or a dead, dying, disabled, or
diseased animal. If an authorized representative of the commissioner finds such an article or
animal on premises where it is held for purposes of, during, or after distribution in intrastate
commerce, and there is reason to believe that it is adulterated or misbranded and is usable as
human food, or that it has not been inspected, in violation of sections 31A.01 to 31A.16, the
Federal Meat Inspection Act, or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or that the article
or animal has been or is intended to be distributed in violation of a provision of those laws, it
may be detained by the representative for up to 20 days pending action under section 31A.24 or
notification of federal authorities having jurisdiction over the article or animal. It must not be
moved by a person, firm, or corporation from the place at which it is located when detained, until
released by the representative. The representative may require all official marks to be removed
from the article or animal before it is released unless the commissioner is satisfied that the article
or animal is eligible to retain the official marks.
History: 1969 c 225 s 23; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1