A. Exotic livestock and exotic livestock products are becoming an important source of the nation's supply of food. It is essential in the public interest that the health and welfare of consumers be protected by assuring that slaughtered exotic livestock and exotic livestock products distributed to them are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, labeled, and packaged. Unwholesome, adulterated, or misbranded exotic livestock are injurious to the public welfare, destroy markets for wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged exotic livestock and exotic livestock products, and result in sundry losses to exotic livestock producers and processors of exotic livestock and exotic livestock products, as well as injury to consumers. The unwholesome, adulterated, mislabeled, or deceptively packaged articles can be sold at lower prices and compete unfairly with the wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged articles, to the detriment of consumers and the public generally.

B. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Legislature of this state to provide for the inspection of exotic livestock and exotic livestock products and otherwise regulate the processing and distribution of such articles to prevent the movement or sale of exotic livestock and exotic livestock products which are adulterated or misbranded.

Added by Laws 1991, c. 231, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 101, § 1, emerg. eff. April 20, 1992.