§ 21-2-22. Inspection of animals and milk. (a) Responsibility for the inspection of herds and animals of milk producers within the state of Rhode Island shall be imposed upon the director of environmental management who shall enforce compliance on the part of Rhode Island producers with the provisions of, and as provided in chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of title 4. With respect to the herds of producers of milk sold or destined for sale in the state of Rhode Island whose herds or establishments are located outside the state, it shall be the duty of the director of environmental management, either personally or through the director's subordinates or veterinarians or technicians approved by the director, to make inspection of the herds and animals, wherever located, to assure himself or herself that they comply in all respects with the same requirements pertaining to the herds and animals of Rhode Island producers under the provisions of chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of title 4, or in the event that the director is satisfied as to the competence and reliability of an entire inspection service or of individual inspectors of cattle available in the state where the herds or establishments of the out-of-state producers are located, he or she may approve the service or the inspectors, as the case may be, and solicit and accept the certification of those inspectors to the health of the herds and animals of out-of-state producers furnishing milk to out-of-state milk plant permittees and compliance with the standards provided for Rhode Island producers; provided, that in the case of any producer outside of the state of Rhode Island who desires certification for the production of grade A milk, all inspections for animal disease and compliance with the provisions of chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of title 4, and for compliance with the requirements for grade A producers provided in § 21-2-6(b) - (d), shall be made by the director of health himself or herself, his or her own subordinates, or by veterinarians or technicians approved by him or her. It shall be the duty of the director of health to procure any necessary information with respect to the herds of producers located outside the state of Rhode Island, milk from which is processed or sold in Rhode Island, required to ensure that the herds substantially comply with the same requirements as in the case of Rhode Island producers imposed upon them by the provisions of chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of title 4.

(b) The director of the department of environmental management shall provide all information and reports necessary to the director of department of health for the enforcement of chapter 6.1 of title 4 and this chapter.

History of Section. (P.L. 1962, ch. 80, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1962, ch. 80, § 12; P.L. 1963, ch. 74, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 78, § 6.)