(a) The commissioner may employ such agents and assistants as are necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the regulations of the Milk Regulation Board and the orders of the commissioner as authorized by said board, and he and his deputy or agents and assistants, for the purpose of examining into any suspected violation of the provisions of this chapter, shall have free access, at all reasonable hours, to all places and premises, apartments of private families keeping no boarders excepted, in which he suspects that the laws relating to milk or any other milk product under his jurisdiction are being violated.

(b) The agents of any dealer, cooperative or other transportation agencies having knowledge or record of any consignment of milk and cream shall inform the commissioner or his deputy, agent or assistant of such consignment and the name of the consignee when requested by the commissioner or his deputy, agent or assistant.

(c) The commissioner or his deputy, agent or assistant shall make an examination of the premises of any farm or dairy, or any place in which cattle, dairy stock or other domestic animals are kept within this state, in which any insanitary condition liable to affect the products of such farm or dairy exists, or is reported or suspected to exist. When any such condition is found by him, he shall notify the owner or occupant of the premises upon which such condition exists to remove or abate the same at the expense of such owner or occupant, within such time as the commissioner or his deputy, agent or assistant directs; and he may, by notice in writing to the owner or occupant, prohibit the sale of any milk or milk products produced on any farm or in any dairy, the owner or occupant of which fails to comply with any order of the commissioner or his deputy, agent or assistant to remove or abate any insanitary condition existing on such premises which is liable to affect the products of such farm or dairy, until such insanitary condition is removed or abated to the satisfaction of the commissioner or his deputy, agent or assistant, and such prohibition shall be terminated by him in writing, but such prohibition may remain in effect five days at the discretion of the commissioner.

(d) Any person who refuses the access provided for herein to the commissioner, his deputy, agent or assistant, or who sells any milk or milk products of any farm or dairy, the sale of which has been prohibited as herein provided, shall be assessed a civil penalty in accordance with the provisions of section 22-7.

(1949 Rev., S. 3176; 1949, S. 1732d; 1961, P.A. 190; P.A. 84-34, S. 2; P.A. 91-312, S. 43; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 85, 130.)

History: 1961 act replaced agents of “railroads and express companies” with agents of “any dealer, cooperative or other transportation agencies”; P.A. 84-34 added reference to Sec. 22-162a; P.A. 91-312 divided section into Subsecs., amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 22-162a since said Sec. already included in existing reference to “this chapter” and amended Subsec. (d) to replace criminal penalty of a fine of not more than $25 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days or both with provision for the assessment of a civil penalty and to delete provision that evidence of violation of any provision of this section shall be prima facie evidence of wilful violation; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (d) for accuracy, effective July 1, 1994.

Cited. 111 C. 440.