§ 106-549.31. Enforcement against uninspected meat. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 106‑549.31. Enforcement against uninspected meat.

Whenever any carcass, part of a carcass, meat or meat food product ofcattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, or any productexempted from the definition of a meat food product, or any dead, dying,disabled, or diseased cattle, sheep, swine, goat, or equine is found by anyinspector of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Service of the North CarolinaDepartment of Agriculture and Consumer Services upon any premises where it isheld for purposes of, or during or after distribution in intrastate commerce,and there is reason to believe that any such article is adulterated ormisbranded and is capable of use as human food, or that is has not beeninspected, in violation of the provisions of Article 49B or of the Federal MeatInspection Act or the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or that such articleor animal has been or is intended to be distributed in violation of any suchprovisions, it may be detained by such inspector, upon approval of hissupervisor, for a period not to exceed 20 days, pending action under G.S. 106‑549.33,and shall not be moved by any person, firm, or corporation from the place atwhich it is located when so detained, until released by the area supervisor ofthe Meat and Poultry Inspection Service. All official marks may be required bysuch inspector to be removed from such article or animal before it is releasedunless it appears to the satisfaction of the area supervisor that the articleor animal is eligible to retain such marks. (1969, c. 893, s. 17; 1997‑261, s. 109.)