(a) The authority to promulgate regulations for the efficient enforcement of this chapter is vested in the commissioner and director, acting jointly. The provisions of such regulations shall not prohibit the sale of food at a noncommercial function such as an educational, religious, political or charitable organization's bake sale or potluck supper provided the seller maintains such food under the temperature, pH level and water activity level conditions which will inhibit the rapid and progressive growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms. For the purposes of this section, a “noncommercial function” means a function where food is sold by a person not regularly engaged in the business of selling such food.

(b) The purpose of this chapter being to promote uniformity of state legislation with the federal act, the commissioner and director, acting jointly, are authorized (1) to adopt, so far as applicable, the regulations from time to time promulgated under the federal act, (2) to make the regulations promulgated under this chapter conform, so far as practicable, with those promulgated under the federal act and (3) to adopt regulations banning the sale or introduction into intrastate commerce of any adulterated food, drug, device or cosmetic, which adversely affects the health or safety of the public.

(c) Hearings authorized or required by this chapter shall be conducted by the commissioner and director, acting jointly, or their authorized representative designated for the purpose.

(d) The commissioner and director, acting jointly, shall hold a public hearing upon a proposal to promulgate any new or amended regulation under this chapter, which requires or prohibits any practice in intrastate commerce; except in the case of a proposal to adopt an applicable regulation promulgated under the federal act. The commissioner shall give appropriate notice of such hearing. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing to be held not fewer than ten days after the date of such notice, except in the case of an emergency found by the commissioner. No regulation promulgated under this chapter, by order issued after such hearing, shall take effect prior to the thirtieth day after the date of such order, except in the case of an emergency found by the commissioner.

(e) In the promulgation of regulations under the provisions of this section applicable to prescribing practitioners, care-giving institutions, and correctional and juvenile training institutions, as defined in subdivision (6) of section 20-571, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall act in place of the director. Existing regulations shall continue in effect unless superseded by action of said commissioner pursuant to this subsection.

(1949 Rev., S. 3951; 1969, P.A. 593, S. 11; P.A. 73-681, S. 25, 29; P.A. 74-338, S. 20, 94; P.A. 86-322, S. 3; P.A. 95-44, S. 1; 95-264, S. 56; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)

History: 1969 act added Subsec. (e) re regulation power of commissioner of health re practitioners, care-giving institutions and correctional and juvenile training institutions; P.A. 73-681 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of consumer protection in Subsec. (e); P.A. 74-338 replaced “commissioners” with “commissioner” in Subsec. (e); Sec. 19-234 transferred to Sec. 21a-115 in 1983; P.A. 86-322 added Subsec. (b)(3) authorizing adoption of regulations banning the sale or introduction into intrastate commerce of adulterated foods, drugs, etc.; P.A. 95-44 prohibited the regulations from prohibiting the sale of food at noncommercial functions and defined “noncommercial function” in Subsec. (a); P.A. 95-264 made technical change in Subsec. (e); June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Consumer Protection with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.