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MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION

Minn. Stat. ch. 31A
in effect

Minn. Stat. § 31A.01 POLICY.

31A.01. POLICY. Meat, poultry, poultry food products, and meat food products are an important source of the nation's total supply of food. It is essential in the public interest that the health and welfare of consumers be protected by assuring that meat, poultry, and meat food products distributed to them are wholesome, unadulterated, and properly marked, labeled, and packaged. Unwholesome, adulterated, or misbranded meat, poultry, poultry food products, or meat food products injure the public welfare, destroy markets for wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged meat, poultry, poultry food products, and meat food products, and result in losses to livestock producers and processors of meat, poultry, poultry food products, and meat food products and injury to consumers. Unwholesome, adulterated, mislabeled, or deceptively packaged articles can be sold at lower prices and compete unfairly with wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged articles, to the detriment of consumers and the general public. Regulation by the commissioner and cooperation between this state and the United States under this chapter are appropriate to protect the health and welfare of consumers and accomplish the purposes of this chapter. 1969 c 225 s 1; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 1999 c 231 s 58; 2000 c 477 s 34

Minn. Stat. § 31A.02 DEFINITIONS.

31A.02. DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. Scope. The definitions in this section apply to this chapter. Subd. 2. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of agriculture or the commissioner's delegate. Subd. 3. [Repealed, 1996 c 310 s 1] Subd. 4. Animals. "Animals" means cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, farmed Cervidae, as defined in section 35.153, subdivision 3, llamas, as defined in section 17.455, subdivision 2, Ratitae, as defined in section 17.453, subdivision 3, horses, equines, and other domesticated animals. Subd. 5. Custom processing. "Custom processing" means slaughtering, eviscerating, dressing, or processing an animal or processing meat products or poultry products for the owner of the animal or of the meat products and poultry products, if all meat products or poultry products derived from the custom operation are returned to the owner of the animal or of the meat products or poultry products. No person may sell, offer for sale, or possess with intent to sell meat derived from custom processing. Subd. 6. Meat broker. "Meat broker" means a person in the business of buying or selling carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, meat food products, poultry, or poultry products of animals on commission, or otherwise negotiating purchases or sales of those articles other than for the person's own account or as an employee of another person, firm, or corporation. Subd. 7. Renderer. "Renderer" means a person in the business of rendering carcasses, or parts or products of the carcasses of animals, except rendering conducted under inspection under sections 31A.01 to 31A.16. Subd. 8. Animal food manufacturer. "Animal food manufacturer" means a person in the business of manufacturing or processing animal food derived wholly or in part from animal carcasses or carcass parts or products. Subd. 9. Intrastate commerce. "Intrastate commerce" means commerce within this state. Subd. 10. Meat food product; poultry food product. "Meat food product" or "poultry food product" means a product usable as human food and made wholly or in part from meat or poultry or a portion of the carcass of cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, wild game or fowl, farmed Cervidae, as defined in section 35.153, subdivision 3, llamas, as defined in section 17.455, subdivision 2, Ratitae, as defined in section 17.453, subdivision 3, or goats. "Meat food product" or "poultry food product" does not include products which contain meat, poultry, or other portions of the carcasses of cattle, sheep, swine, wild game or fowl, farmed Cervidae, llamas, Ratitae, or goats only in a relatively small proportion or that historically have not been considered by consumers as products of the meat food industry, and which are exempted from definition as a meat food product or poultry food product by the commissioner under the conditions the commissioner prescribes to assure that the meat or other portions of carcasses contained in the products are not adulterated and that the products are not represented as meat food products or poultry food products. "Meat food product," as applied to products of equines, has a meaning comparable to that for cattle, sheep, swine, wild game or fowl, farmed Cervidae, llamas, Ratitae, and goats. Subd. 11. Usable as human food. "Usable as human food" means that a carcass, or part or product of a carcass, of an animal (1) is not denatured or otherwise identified as required by rules of the commissioner to deter its use as human food, or (2) is not naturally inedible by humans. Subd. 12. Prepared. "Prepared" means slaughtered, canned, salted, rendered, boned, cut up, or otherwise manufactured or processed. Subd. 13. Adulterated. "Adulterated" means an item is covered by section 34A.02. Subd. 14. Misbranded. "Misbranded" means an item is covered by section 34A.03. Subd. 15. Label. "Label" has the meaning given in section 34A.01, subdivision 6. Subd. 16. Labeling. "Labeling" has the meaning given in section 34A.01, subdivision 7. Subd. 17. Federal Meat Inspection Act. "Federal Meat Inspection Act" means the Federal Meat Inspection Act. Subd. 17a. Federal Poultry Inspection Act. "Federal Poultry Inspection Act" means the Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, as amended. Subd. 18. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act" means the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended. Subd. 19. Pesticide chemical; food additive; color additive; raw agricultural commodity. "Pesticide chemical," "food additive," "color additive," and "raw agricultural commodity" have the meanings given them in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Subd. 20. Official mark. "Official mark" means the official inspection legend or other symbol prescribed by rule of the commissioner to identify the status of an article or animal under this chapter. Subd. 21. Official inspection legend. "Official inspection legend" means a symbol prescribed by rule of the commissioner showing that an article was inspected and passed under this chapter. Subd. 22. Official certificate. "Official certificate" means a certificate prescribed by rule of the commissioner for issuance by an inspector or other person performing official functions under this chapter. Subd. 23. Official device. "Official device" means a device prescribed or authorized by the commissioner for use in applying an official mark. Subd. 24. Poultry. "Poultry" means any domesticated bird, including, but not limited to, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, or guineas. 1969 c 225 s 2; 1983 c 300 s 17; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 1993 c 375 art 9 s 9,10; 1999 c 231 s 59-61; 2000 c 477 s 35-39; 2006 c 212 art 1 s 22; 2012 c 244 art 2 s 16-19; 2017 c 88 art 2 s 55; 2020 c 89 art 4 s 22

Minn. Stat. § 31A.03 INSPECTION OF LIVE ANIMALS; DISPOSITION OF DEFECTIVE ANIMALS.

31A.03. INSPECTION OF LIVE ANIMALS; DISPOSITION OF DEFECTIVE ANIMALS. To prevent the use in intrastate commerce of adulterated meat, meat food products, poultry, and poultry food products, the commissioner shall appoint inspectors and have them examine and inspect all animals before the animals enter a slaughtering, packing, meat canning, rendering, or similar establishment in this state in which slaughtering of animals and preparation of meat, meat food products, poultry, and poultry food products are conducted solely for intrastate commerce. Animals found on inspection to show symptoms of disease must be set apart and slaughtered separately from other animals. The carcasses of those animals must be carefully examined and inspected under rules of the commissioner. 1969 c 225 s 3; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 477 s 40

Minn. Stat. § 31A.04 INSPECTION OF CARCASSES AND PARTS; MARKING; DISPOSITION OF CONDEMNED CARCASSES.

31A.04. INSPECTION OF CARCASSES AND PARTS; MARKING; DISPOSITION OF CONDEMNED CARCASSES. Inspectors appointed by the commissioner for that purpose shall make a postmortem examination and inspection of the carcasses and parts of all animals usable as human food prepared at a slaughtering, meat canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishment in this state in which carcasses or parts are prepared solely for intrastate commerce. Carcasses and parts of animals found to be unadulterated must be marked, stamped, tagged, or labeled, as "Inspected and Passed." The inspectors shall label, mark, stamp, or tag as "Inspected and Condemned" carcasses and parts of animals found to be adulterated. Carcasses and animal parts inspected and condemned must be destroyed for food purposes by the establishment in the presence of an inspector. The commissioner may remove inspectors from an establishment which fails to destroy a condemned carcass or animal part. After the first inspection, inspectors shall, if they consider it necessary, reinspect the carcasses or animal parts to determine whether they have become adulterated since the first inspection. If a carcass or animal part is then found to be adulterated, it must be destroyed for food purposes by the establishment in the presence of an inspector. The commissioner may remove inspectors from an establishment which fails to destroy a condemned carcass or animal part. 1969 c 225 s 4; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.05 APPLICATION OF INSPECTION PROVISIONS.

31A.05. APPLICATION OF INSPECTION PROVISIONS. Sections 31A.03 and 31A.04 apply to carcasses or parts of animals, poultry, or poultry food products, and meat or meat products derived from them that are usable as human food, when these items are brought into a slaughtering, meat canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishment, where inspection under sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 is done. Examination and inspection must be made before the carcasses or animal parts may enter into a department where they are to be treated and prepared for meat food products or poultry food products. Sections 31A.03 and 31A.04 also apply to products which, after having been issued from a slaughtering, meat canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishment, must be returned to it or to a similar establishment where inspection is done. The commissioner may limit the entry of carcasses, parts of carcasses, poultry, poultry food products, meat, meat food products, and other materials into an establishment where inspection under sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 is done to conditions the commissioner prescribes to assure that allowing the entry of articles into inspected establishments is consistent with the purposes of this chapter. 1969 c 225 s 5; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 477 s 41

Minn. Stat. § 31A.06 INSPECTORS' DUTIES.

31A.06. INSPECTORS' DUTIES. The commissioner shall appoint inspectors to examine and inspect poultry food products and meat food products prepared in a slaughtering, meat canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishment, where the articles are prepared solely for intrastate commerce. For examination and inspection purposes, the inspectors must be given access at all times, whether the establishment is operated or not, to every part of the establishment. The inspectors shall mark, stamp, tag, or label as "Minnesota Inspected and Passed" all products found to be unadulterated, and the inspectors shall label, mark, stamp, or tag as "Minnesota Inspected and Condemned" all products found to be adulterated. Condemned meat food products or poultry food products must be destroyed for food purposes under section 31A.04. The commissioner may remove inspectors from an establishment which fails to destroy condemned poultry food products or meat food products. 1969 c 225 s 6; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 477 s 42

Minn. Stat. § 31A.07 MARKING OR LABELING OF INSPECTED ARTICLES.

31A.07. MARKING OR LABELING OF INSPECTED ARTICLES. Subdivision 1. Labeling; packing. When poultry, poultry food products, meat, or meat food products prepared for intrastate commerce which have been inspected and marked "Minnesota Inspected and Passed" is placed or packed in a can, pot, tin, canvas, or other receptacle or covering in an establishment where inspection is done under sections 31A.01 to 31A.31, the person, firm, or corporation preparing the product shall have a label attached to the can, pot, tin, canvas, or other receptacle or covering, under supervision of an inspector. The label must state that the contents have been "Minnesota Inspected and Passed" under sections 31A.01 to 31A.31. An inspection or examination of poultry, poultry food products, meat, or meat food products deposited or enclosed in cans, tins, pots, canvas, or other receptacles or coverings in an establishment where inspection is done under this chapter is not complete until the poultry, poultry food products, meat, or meat food products have been sealed or enclosed in the can, tin, pot, canvas, or other receptacle or covering under the supervision of an inspector. Subd. 2. Labels; marks. All carcasses, parts of carcasses, poultry, poultry food products, meat, and meat food products inspected at an establishment under this chapter and found not to be adulterated, must when they leave the establishment bear, directly or on their containers, legible labels or official marks as required by the commissioner. Subd. 3. Labeling styles, sizes; standards of identity, composition, and fill. If the commissioner determines that it is necessary for the protection of the public, the commissioner may prescribe: (1) the styles and sizes of type to be used in material required to be incorporated in labeling to avoid false or misleading labeling of articles or animals subject to sections 31A.01 to 31A.20; and (2) definitions and standards of identity, composition, or fill of container for articles subject to sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 consistent with standards established under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or the Federal Meat Inspection Act. The commissioner and the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States shall consult before issuance of standards to avoid inconsistent state and federal standards. Subd. 4. Misleading labeling or containers. No article subject to sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 may be sold or offered for sale by a person in intrastate commerce under a name or other marking or labeling which is false or misleading or in a container of a misleading form or size. Established trade names and other marking and labeling and containers which are not false or misleading and which are approved by the commissioner are permitted. Subd. 5. Commissioner's orders. If the commissioner has reason to believe that a marking or labeling or the size or form of a container in use or proposed for use with an article subject to sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 is false or misleading, the commissioner may direct that its use be withheld unless the marking, labeling, or container is modified in a manner the commissioner prescribes so that it will not be false or misleading. If the person using or proposing to use the marking, labeling, or container does not accept the determination of the commissioner, the person may request a hearing. The use of the marking, labeling, or container must, if the commissioner so directs, be withheld pending hearing and final determination by the commissioner. A determination by the commissioner is conclusive unless the person adversely affected appeals to the district court within 30 days after receiving the notice of final determination. 1969 c 225 s 7; 1971 c 24 s 5,6; 1971 c 25 s 15; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 477 s 43,44

Minn. Stat. § 31A.08 SANITATION.

31A.08. SANITATION. The commissioner shall have experts in sanitation or other competent inspectors inspect all slaughtering, meat canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishments in which animals are slaughtered and their poultry, poultry food products, meat, and meat food products are prepared solely for intrastate commerce. The inspections must be conducted as necessary for the commissioner to know the sanitary conditions of the establishments, and to prescribe the rules of sanitation under which the establishments must be maintained. If an establishment has sanitary conditions that allow poultry, poultry food products, meat, or meat food products to become adulterated, the commissioner shall refuse to allow the poultry, poultry food products, meat, or meat food products to be labeled, marked, stamped, or tagged as "Minnesota Inspected and Passed." 1969 c 225 s 8; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 477 s 45

Minn. Stat. § 31A.09 NIGHTTIME INSPECTIONS.

31A.09. NIGHTTIME INSPECTIONS. Inspections under section 31A.08 must be made at night as well as during the daytime if slaughtering of animals or preparation of food products is conducted at night. 1969 c 225 s 9; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.10 PROHIBITIONS.

31A.10. PROHIBITIONS. No person may, with respect to an animal, carcass, part of a carcass, poultry, poultry food product, meat, or meat food product: (1) slaughter an animal or prepare an article that is usable as human food, at any establishment preparing articles solely for intrastate commerce, except in compliance with this chapter; (2) sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation, in intrastate commerce (i) articles which are usable as human food and are adulterated or misbranded at the time of sale, transportation, offer for sale or transportation, or receipt for transportation; or (ii) articles required to be inspected under sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 that have not been inspected and passed; (3) do something to an article that is usable as human food while the article is being transported in intrastate commerce or held for sale after transportation, which is intended to cause or has the effect of causing the article to be adulterated or misbranded; or (4) sell, offer for sale, or possess with intent to sell meat derived from custom processing, except wild game and fowl products may be donated under sections 17.035; 97A.505, subdivision 5; 97A.510; and 97B.303. 1969 c 225 s 10; 1983 c 300 s 18; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 477 s 46; 2020 c 89 art 4 s 23

Minn. Stat. § 31A.11 FORGING OF OFFICIAL MARKS OR CERTIFICATES.

31A.11. FORGING OF OFFICIAL MARKS OR CERTIFICATES. Subdivision 1. Unauthorized marks or certificates. No brand manufacturer, printer, or other person may cast, print, lithograph, or otherwise make a device containing an official mark, simulation of an official mark, label bearing a mark or simulation, or form of official certificate or simulation, except as authorized by the commissioner. Subd. 2. Prohibitions. No person may: (1) forge an official device, mark, or certificate; (2) without authorization from the commissioner use a real or simulated official device, mark, or certificate, or alter, detach, deface, or destroy an official device, mark, or certificate; (3) contrary to the rules prescribed by the commissioner, detach, deface, destroy, or fail to use an official device, mark, or certificate; (4) knowingly possess, without promptly notifying the commissioner or the commissioner's representative, an official device, a counterfeit, simulated, forged, or improperly altered official certificate, or a device, label, or carcass, part, or product of an animal bearing a counterfeit, simulated, forged, or improperly altered official mark; (5) knowingly make a false statement in a shipper's certificate or other certificate provided for in the rules of the commissioner; or (6) knowingly represent falsely that an article has been inspected and passed, or exempted, under this chapter. 1969 c 225 s 11; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.12 HORSE MEAT.

31A.12. HORSE MEAT. No person may sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation in intrastate commerce, whole or parts of carcasses of horses, mules, or other equines or meat or meat food products derived from them, unless they are plainly and conspicuously marked, labeled, or otherwise identified as required by rules prescribed by the commissioner to show the kinds of animals from which they were derived. When required by the commissioner with respect to establishments where inspection is done under sections 31A.01 to 31A.16, equines and their carcasses, parts, meat, and meat food products must be prepared in establishments separate from those in which cattle, sheep, swine, or goats are slaughtered or their carcasses, parts, meat, or meat food products are prepared. 1969 c 225 s 12; 1971 c 24 s 7; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.13 INSPECTORS.

31A.13. INSPECTORS. The commissioner shall appoint inspectors to inspect animals, whole or parts of carcasses, poultry, poultry food products, meat, and meat food products the inspection of which is provided for by law, and the sanitary conditions of all establishments in which the poultry, poultry food products, meat, and meat food products are prepared. Inspectors shall refuse to stamp, mark, tag, or label a whole or part of a carcass or a meat food product derived from it, prepared in an establishment covered by sections 31A.01 to 31A.12, until it has actually been inspected and found to be not adulterated. Inspectors shall perform other duties required by this chapter or by rules adopted by the commissioner that are necessary for the efficient execution of this chapter. Inspections under this chapter must conform to the rules adopted by the commissioner consistent with this chapter. 1969 c 225 s 13; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 477 s 47

Minn. Stat. § 31A.14 BRIBERY.

31A.14. BRIBERY. A person who gives or receives anything of value in order to influence the performance of sections 31A.01 to 31A.31 violates section 609.42 or 609.43. 1969 c 225 s 14; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.15 EXEMPTIONS.

31A.15. EXEMPTIONS. Subdivision 1. Inspection. The provisions of sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 requiring inspection of the slaughter of animals and the preparation of the carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, poultry, poultry food products, and meat food products at establishments conducting slaughter and preparation do not apply: (1) to the processing by a person of the person's own animals and the owner's preparation and transportation in intrastate commerce of the carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, poultry, poultry food products, and meat food products of those animals exclusively for use by the owner and members of the owner's household, nonpaying guests, and employees; or (2) to the custom processing by a person of animals, wild game, or fowl delivered by the owner for processing, and the preparation or transportation in intrastate commerce of the carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, poultry, poultry food products, and meat food products of animals, exclusively for use in the household of the owner by the owner and members of the owner's household, nonpaying guests, and employees. Meat from custom processing must be identified and handled as required by the commissioner, during all phases of processing, chilling, cooling, freezing, preparation, storage, and transportation. The custom processor may not engage in the business of buying or selling carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, poultry, poultry food products, or meat food products of animals usable as human food unless the carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, poultry, poultry food products, or meat food products have been inspected and passed and are identified as inspected and passed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture or the United States Department of Agriculture. Subd. 2. Sanitary conditions. The processing of animals and preparation of articles referred to in subdivision 1, clause (2), must be conducted in accordance with sanitary conditions that the commissioner may by rule prescribe. Subd. 3. Adulteration and misbranding. The adulteration and misbranding provisions of sections 31A.01 to 31A.16, other than the requirement of the inspection legend, apply to articles which are not required to be inspected under this section. 1969 c 225 s 15; 1983 c 300 s 19; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 1999 c 231 s 62; 2000 c 477 s 48; 2020 c 89 art 4 s 24

Minn. Stat. § 31A.16 STORING AND HANDLING CONDITIONS.

31A.16. STORING AND HANDLING CONDITIONS. The commissioner may adopt rules prescribing conditions under which carcasses, parts of carcasses, poultry, poultry food products, meat, and meat food products of animals usable as human food must be stored or otherwise handled by a person in the business of buying, selling, freezing, storing, or transporting them, in or for intrastate commerce, if the commissioner considers action necessary to assure that the articles will not be adulterated or misbranded when delivered to the consumer. 1969 c 225 s 16; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 477 s 49

Minn. Stat. § 31A.17 ARTICLES NOT INTENDED AS HUMAN FOOD.

31A.17. ARTICLES NOT INTENDED AS HUMAN FOOD. Inspection must not be provided under sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 at an establishment for the slaughter of animals or the preparation of carcasses or parts or products of animals which are not intended for use as human food. Before they are offered for sale or transportation in intrastate commerce, those articles must be denatured or otherwise identified as prescribed by rules of the commissioner to deter their use for human food, unless they are naturally inedible by humans. No person may buy, sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation, in intrastate commerce, carcasses, parts of carcasses, poultry, poultry food products, meat, or meat food products of animals which are not intended for use as human food unless they are denatured or otherwise identified as required by the rules of the commissioner or are naturally inedible by humans. 1969 c 225 s 17; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 477 s 50

Minn. Stat. § 31A.18 RECORDS.

31A.18. RECORDS. Subdivision 1. Who must keep. The following classes of persons shall keep records that fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in their businesses: (1) persons in the business, for intrastate commerce, of slaughtering animals or preparing, freezing, packaging, or labeling animal carcasses, parts, or products of carcasses for use as human or animal food; (2) persons in the intrastate business of buying or selling (as meat brokers, wholesalers, or otherwise), transporting, or storing animal carcasses or parts or products of animal carcasses; and (3) persons in the intrastate business of rendering, or in the intrastate business of buying, selling, or transporting dead, dying, disabled, or diseased animals or parts of the carcasses of animals that died other than by slaughter. Subd. 1a. Examination of records, facilities. Upon notice by an authorized representative of the commissioner, persons subject to this section shall, at all reasonable times, give the representative and an authorized representative of the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States accompanied by a representative of the commissioner access to their places of business and opportunity to examine the facilities, inventory, and records of the business, to copy business records, and to take reasonable samples of their inventory upon payment of the fair market value of the samples. Subd. 2. Retention. Records required by this section must be maintained for the period of time the commissioner prescribes by rule. 1969 c 225 s 18; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.19 REGISTRATION OF BUSINESSES.

31A.19. REGISTRATION OF BUSINESSES. No person may engage in intrastate business as: (1) a meat broker, renderer, or animal food manufacturer; (2) a wholesaler of animal carcasses, carcass parts, or products of carcasses, intended for human food or other purposes; (3) a public warehouse operator storing carcasses or parts of carcasses of animals in or for intrastate commerce; or (4) a buyer, seller, or transporter of dead, dying, disabled, or diseased animals of the specified kinds, or parts of the carcasses of animals that died other than by slaughter unless, when required by rule of the commissioner, the person has provided the commissioner with the person's name and the address of each place of business at which, and all trade names under which, the person conducts business. 1969 c 225 s 19; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.20 DEAD, DYING, DISABLED, OR DISEASED ANIMALS; RULES.

31A.20. DEAD, DYING, DISABLED, OR DISEASED ANIMALS; RULES. This section covers dead, dying, or disabled animals and the whole or partial carcasses of animals that died other than by slaughter. The commissioner may adopt rules to assure that items covered by this section are not used as human food. A person in the intrastate business of buying, selling, or transporting items covered by this section must comply with those rules. 1969 c 225 s 20; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.21 COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

31A.21. COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Subdivision 1. Designation. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is the state agency responsible for cooperating with the United States Secretary of Agriculture under section 301 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and of the Poultry Products Inspection Act to develop and administer the state meat inspection program under this chapter so that its requirements at least equal those imposed under titles I and IV of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and of the Poultry Products Inspection Act to develop and administer the state program under sections 31A.17 to 31A.20 to carry out the purposes of this chapter and the federal act. Subd. 2. Federal assistance. In its cooperative efforts, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture may accept from the United States Secretary of Agriculture (1) advisory assistance in planning and otherwise developing the state program, (2) technical and laboratory assistance and training, including necessary curricular and instructional materials and equipment, and (3) financial and other aid for the administration of the program. Subd. 3. Advice; consultation. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture may recommend to the United States Secretary of Agriculture officials or employees of this state for appointment to the advisory committees provided for in section 301 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and of the Poultry Products Inspection Act. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture shall serve as the representative of the governor for consultation with the secretary under paragraph (c) of section 301 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and of the Poultry Products Inspection Act unless the governor selects another representative. Subd. 4. Municipalities; government subdivisions. If the state program includes performance of functions by a municipality or other subdivision of state government, the municipality or subdivision is part of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for the purposes of this section. Subd. 5. Application to operate inspection service. A municipality or other subdivision of state government, through the agent of a community health board as authorized under section 145A.04 or other appropriate authority, may apply in writing for designation to operate a state-approved inspection service under supervision of the commissioner. Applications must be filed on forms obtained from the commissioner and include the information the commissioner requires. Subd. 6. Inspection and designation. On receipt of an application under subdivision 5, the commissioner shall determine whether the applicant's inspection service conforms with this chapter and the designation to operate under the commissioner's supervision as an approved inspection service. A municipality or other subdivision of state government may be designated only after the commissioner determines that each establishment under supervision of the municipality or other subdivision conforms with this chapter and the rules of the commissioner and that the municipality or subdivision is effectively enforcing laws and rules equivalent to sections 31A.01 to 31A.31 and the rules of the commissioner. The department shall make regular inspections and surveys to determine if the inspection service continues to comply. The commissioner may revoke the designation of inspection service by an agency if the commissioner finds that there is a failure to conform to the provisions of this chapter or the rules. Subd. 7. Reimbursement by state. If a municipality or other subdivision of state government performs inspection service under this section, the agency may be reimbursed for the service at a rate contracted with Minnesota Department of Agriculture. 1969 c 225 s 21; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 309 s 24; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 1999 c 231 s 63,64; 1Sp2001 c 2 s 55; 2015 c 21 art 1 s 109

Minn. Stat. § 31A.22 REFUSAL OR WITHDRAWAL OF INSPECTION.

31A.22. REFUSAL OR WITHDRAWAL OF INSPECTION. The commissioner may, for a length of time the commissioner considers necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, refuse to provide, or withdraw, inspection service under sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 from an establishment. The commissioner may refuse or withdraw inspection service if the commissioner determines, after giving the applicant for or recipient of the service an opportunity for a hearing, that the applicant or recipient is unfit to engage in any business requiring inspection under sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 because the applicant or recipient, or anyone responsibly connected with the applicant or recipient, has been convicted, in a federal or state court, of (1) a felony, or (2) more than one violation of a law, other than a felony, based on acquiring, handling, or distributing unwholesome, mislabeled, or deceptively packaged food or on fraud in connection with transactions in food. This section does not affect other provisions of this chapter for withdrawal of inspection services under sections 31A.01 to 31A.16 from establishments failing to maintain sanitary conditions or to destroy condemned carcasses, parts, meat, or meat food products. For the purpose of this section a person is responsibly connected with a business if the person is a partner, officer, director, holder, or owner of ten percent or more of its voting stock or an employee in a managerial or executive capacity. A determination and order of the commissioner under this section is final unless the affected applicant for or recipient of inspection service applies for judicial review within 30 days after the effective date of the order in the district court. Judicial review of an order must be based on the same record as the determination and order. 1969 c 225 s 22; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.23 DETENTION OF ANIMALS OR PRODUCTS.

31A.23. DETENTION OF ANIMALS OR PRODUCTS. This section applies to a carcass, part of a carcass, meat, or meat food product of an animal, a product exempted from the definition of a meat food product, or a dead, dying, disabled, or diseased animal. If an authorized representative of the commissioner finds such an article or animal on premises where it is held for purposes of, during, or after distribution in intrastate commerce, and there is reason to believe that it is adulterated or misbranded and is usable as human food, or that it has not been inspected, in violation of sections 31A.01 to 31A.16, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or that the article or animal has been or is intended to be distributed in violation of a provision of those laws, it may be detained by the representative for up to 20 days pending action under section 34A.11, subdivision 2, or notification of federal authorities having jurisdiction over the article or animal. It must not be moved by a person, firm, or corporation from the place at which it is located when detained, until released by the representative. The representative may require all official marks to be removed from the article or animal before it is released unless the commissioner is satisfied that the article or animal is eligible to retain the official marks. 1969 c 225 s 23; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 2012 c 244 art 2 s 20

Minn. Stat. § 31A.25 ACCESS BY INSPECTORS.

31A.25. ACCESS BY INSPECTORS. To get information about suspected violations of law, the commissioner and the commissioner's assistants, inspectors, appointees, agents and employees must be given access to the following: (1) places where food or something else, the manufacture, sale, use, or transportation of which is restricted, regulated, or prohibited by a law of this state, is or may be manufactured, prepared, stored, sold, used, transported, offered for sale or transportation, or had in possession with intent to use, sell, or transport, or where cows or other animals are pastured or stabled; (2) cars or other carriages used to transport the articles or animals; and (3) places where food is or may be cooked, prepared, sold, or kept for sale to or for the public or distributed as a part of the compensation of an employee or agent, including public and private hospitals, lumber and railroad camps, inns, boarding and eating houses, drinking places, dining cars, boats, and other places where any of these articles may be manufactured, sold, used, offered for sale or transportation, or possessed with intent to use, sell, or transport. They may inspect a package, receptacle, or container found in those places apparently containing food, a food ingredient, or something else the manufacture, use, sale, or transportation of which is restricted, regulated, or forbidden by state law, and may take samples from it for analysis. A person obstructing entry or inspection, or failing upon request to assist in the inspection, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 1969 c 225 s 25; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.27 POWERS OF COMMISSIONER.

31A.27. POWERS OF COMMISSIONER. Subdivision 1. Gathering information. The commissioner may, for the purposes of this chapter: (1) gather and compile information concerning and investigate the organization, business, conduct, practices, and management of a person in intrastate commerce and the person's relation to other persons; and (2) require, by general or special orders, a person, persons, or a class of persons engaged in intrastate commerce to file with the commissioner, in the form the commissioner prescribes, annual and special reports or answers in writing to specific questions, giving the commissioner the information the commissioner requires about the organization, business, conduct, practices, management, and relation to other persons, of the person filing the reports or answers. The reports and answers must be made under oath, or otherwise, as the commissioner prescribes, and filed with the commissioner within a reasonable time the commissioner prescribes, unless additional time is granted by the commissioner. Subd. 2. Examination of documents for evidence. (a) For the purposes of this chapter, the commissioner must at all reasonable times be allowed to examine and copy documentary evidence of a person being investigated or proceeded against. The commissioner may subpoena witnesses and require the production of documentary evidence of a person relating to any matter under investigation. The commissioner may sign subpoenas, administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive evidence. (b) Attendance of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence may be required at a designated hearing place. In case of disobedience to a subpoena, the commissioner may invoke the aid of the district court to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence. (c) The district court, in case of refusal to obey a subpoena issued to a person, may issue an order requiring the person to appear before the commissioner or to produce documentary evidence if ordered, or to give evidence touching the matter in question. Failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt. (d) Upon the application of the attorney general of this state at the request of the commissioner, the district court may order a person to comply with sections 31A.01 to 31A.31 or an order of the commissioner made under those sections. (e) The commissioner may order testimony to be taken by deposition in a proceeding or investigation pending under this chapter at any state of the proceeding or investigation. Depositions may be taken before a person designated by the commissioner and having power to administer oaths. The testimony must be reduced to writing by the person taking the deposition or under the person's direction and must then be signed by the witness. A person may be compelled to appear and depose and to produce documentary evidence in the same manner as witnesses may be compelled to appear and testify and produce documentary evidence before the commissioner. (f) Witnesses summoned before the commissioner may be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the district courts. Witnesses whose depositions are taken and the persons taking them may be entitled to the fees that are paid for those services in the district court. (g) A person is not excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, papers, schedules of charges, contracts, agreements, or other documentary evidence before the commissioner or in obedience to the subpoena of the commissioner whether the subpoena is signed or issued by the commissioner or the commissioner's delegate, or in any cause or proceeding, criminal or otherwise, based upon or growing out of an alleged violation of this chapter because the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of the person may tend to incriminate the person or subject the person to a penalty or forfeiture. No person may be prosecuted or subjected to a penalty or forfeiture on account of a matter concerning which the person is compelled, after having claimed a privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, except that a witness is not exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in testifying. Subd. 3. Penalties related to testimony and records. (a) A person who neglects or refuses to attend and testify, to answer a lawful inquiry, or to produce documentary evidence, if it is in the person's power to do so, in obedience to the subpoena or lawful requirement of the commissioner is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) A person who willfully (1) makes or causes to be made a false entry or statement of fact in a report required under this chapter; (2) makes or causes to be made a false entry in an account, record, or memorandum kept by a person subject to this chapter; (3) neglects or fails to make or to cause to be made full and correct entries in the accounts, records, or memoranda, of all facts and transactions relating to the person's business; (4) leaves the jurisdiction of this state; (5) mutilates, alters, or by any other means falsifies documentary evidence of a person subject to this chapter; or (6) refuses to submit to the commissioner, for inspection and copying, any documentary evidence of a person subject to this chapter in the person's possession or control, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (c) A person required by this chapter to file an annual or special report who fails to do so within the time fixed by the commissioner for filing the report and continues the failure for 30 days after notice of failure to file, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (d) An officer or employee of this state who makes public information obtained by the commissioner without the commissioner's authority, unless directed by a court, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 1969 c 225 s 27; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.29 COST OF ADMINISTRATION; OVERTIME WORK.

31A.29. COST OF ADMINISTRATION; OVERTIME WORK. The cost of administering this chapter, including the cost of inspection, must be paid from appropriations made for this purpose, except to the extent of federal contributions as provided in section 31A.21. The commissioner may pay employees of the Department of Agriculture employed in establishments subject to this chapter for overtime work performed at the establishments. The commissioner may accept from the establishments where the overtime work is performed reimbursement for sums paid by the commissioner for overtime work. Reimbursements must be deposited in the treasury and credited to the accounts from which the overtime costs were paid. 1969 c 225 s 29; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1

Minn. Stat. § 31A.31 CITATION.

31A.31. CITATION. This chapter may be cited as the "Minnesota Meat and Poultry Inspection Act." 1969 c 225 s 31; 1988 c 469 art 2 s 1; 1999 c 231 s 65
Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (revisor.mn.gov)URL: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/31AFetched: 10/19/2026

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