189A.12 - SEIZURE, DETENTION AND DETERMINATION. - Iowa Statutes

189A.12 SEIZURE, DETENTION AND DETERMINATION. Whenever any livestock or poultry product or any product exempted from the definition of a livestock or poultry product, or any dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock or poultry is found by any authorized representative of the secretary upon any premises where it is held for purposes of, or during or after distribution in, intrastate commerce or is otherwise subject to this chapter, and there is reason to believe that any such article is adulterated or misbranded and is capable of use as human food, or that it has not been inspected in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the federal Meat Inspection Act, the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, or the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or that such article or animal has been or is intended to be distributed in violation of any such provisions, it may be detained by such representative for a period not to exceed twenty days, pending action under this section or notification of any federal authorities having jurisdiction over such article or animal, and shall not be moved by any person from the place at which it is located when so detained until released by such representative. All official marks may be required by such representative to be removed from such article or animal before it is released unless it appears to the satisfaction of the secretary that the article or animal is eligible to retain such marks. 1. Any livestock or poultry product, or any dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock or poultry which is being transported in intrastate commerce, or is otherwise subject to this chapter, or is held for sale in this state after such transportation, and which is or has been prepared, sold, transported, or otherwise distributed or offered or received for distribution in violation of this chapter; or is capable of use as human food and is adulterated or misbranded; or is in any other way in violation of this chapter shall be liable to be proceeded against and seized and condemned at any time on a complaint filed in the district court of the particular county within the jurisdiction of which such article or animal is found. If such article or animal is condemned it shall, after entry of the decree, be disposed of by destruction or sale as the court may direct and any proceeds, less the court costs and fees, storage fees, and other proper expenses, shall be paid into the treasury of this state, but the article or animal shall not be sold contrary to the provisions of this chapter, the federal Meat Inspection Act, the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, or the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; however, upon the execution and delivery of a good and sufficient bond conditioned that the article or animal shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of contrary to the provisions of this chapter or the laws of the United States, the court may direct that such article or animal be delivered to the owner thereof subject to such supervision by authorized representatives of the secretary as is necessary to insure compliance with the applicable laws. When a decree of condemnation is entered against the article or animal and it is released under bond or destroyed, court costs and fees, storage fees, and other proper expenses shall be awarded against any person intervening as claimant of the article or animal. The proceedings in such cases shall be held without a jury, except that either party may demand trial by jury of any issue of fact joined in any case, and all such proceedings shall be at the suit of and in the name of this state. 2. The provisions of this section shall in no way derogate from authority for condemnation or seizure conferred by other provisions of this chapter or other applicable laws.          Section History: Early Form [C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 189A.12]