The commissioner must give written notice to violating retailers or food service establishments and give them three days to fix the violation. Penalties can include fines, and repeat violations can lead to higher fines or suspension of a retail or food establishment license.
§4735. Penalties A. The commissioner shall notify, in writing, any retailer or food service establishment in violation of this Subpart and shall give the retailer or food service establishment three days to correct the violation. No penalties shall apply to any retailer or food service establishment that corrects the violation within three days from the date of notification by the commissioner. B. In addition to any other civil or criminal penalties, any person who violates any of the provisions of this Subpart or who otherwise misrepresents as catfish any other fish or other fish product not defined as catfish in R.S. 3:4733(1) or as catfish product in R.S. 3:4733(2) shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars. For a second offense, a person shall be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars. For any subsequent violations, a person shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by having the license for the retail or food establishment suspended indefinitely or until such establishment has corrected the violation, or both. Any retailer offering catfish or catfish products for sale that are found to be designated incorrectly as to the country of origin or the method of production shall not be held liable by reason of the conduct of another if the retailer proves they had no knowledge of the violation. C. Any person against whom a complaint is made or who has been made subject to a fine or license suspension as provided by this Section may avail themselves of a due process administrative hearing. D. Any owner or manager of a restaurant who is found guilty of a violation of this Section shall, upon a first offense, be fined one hundred dollars; upon a second offense, be fined two hundred fifty dollars and upon a third or subsequent offense, be fined one thousand dollars. Acts 2009, No. 506, §1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 16, §1, eff. May 26, 2010.