Section 2-17-18 Detention of Carcasses, Meat Food Products, Poultry Food Products, Etc., Believed to Be Adulterated or Misbranded, Etc.; Removal of Official Marks Therefrom Prior to Release.

Whenever any carcass, part of a carcass, meat or meat food product of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines or carcass or part of a carcass of poultry or poultry food product or any product exempted from the definition of a meat food product or any dead, dying, disabled or diseased cattle, sheep, swine, goat or equine or poultry is found by any authorized representative of the commissioner upon any premises where it is held for purposes of or during or after distribution in intrastate commerce 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 or of the federal Meat 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 20 days, pending action under Section 2-17-19 or notification of any federal authorities having jurisdiction over such articles or animal, and shall not be moved by any person, firm or corporation 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 commissioner that the article or animal is eligible to retain such marks.