2019 Tennessee Code
Title 44 - Animals and Animal Husbandry
Chapter 6 - Commercial Feed Law
§ 44-6-111. Inspection -- Sampling -- Analysis.

(a) For the purpose of enforcement of this chapter, and in order to determine whether its provisions have been complied with, including whether or not any operations may be subject to the provisions, officers or employees duly designated by the commissioner, upon presenting appropriate credentials, are authorized to:

• (1) Enter, during normal business hours, any factory, warehouse, or establishment within the state in which commercial feeds are manufactured, processed, packed, or held for distribution, or to enter any vehicle being used to transport or hold commercial feeds; and

• (2)

  • (A) Inspect at reasonable times and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, such a factory, warehouse, establishment, or vehicle, and all pertinent equipment, finished and unfinished materials, containers, and labeling therein.

  • (B) The inspection may include the verification of only such records and production and control procedures as may be necessary to determine compliance with the good manufacturing practice regulations established under § 44-6-107(4).

(b) A separate notice shall be given for each such inspection, but a notice shall not be required for each entry made during the period covered by the inspection. Each such inspection shall be commenced and completed with reasonable promptness. Upon completion of the inspection, the person in charge of the facility or vehicle shall be so notified.

(c) If the officer or employee making such an inspection of a factory, warehouse, or other establishment has obtained a sample in the course of the inspection, upon completion of the inspection and prior to leaving the premises, the officer or employee shall give to the owner, operator, or agent in charge a receipt describing the samples obtained.

(d) If the owner of any factory, warehouse, or establishment described in subsection (a), or the owner's agent, refuses to admit the commissioner, or the commissioner's agent, to inspect in accordance with subsections (a) and (b), the commissioner is authorized to obtain from any state court a court order directing the owner or the owner's agent to submit the premises described in the warrant to inspection.

(e) For the purpose of the enforcement of this chapter, the commissioner or the commissioner's duly designated agent is authorized to enter upon any public or private premises, including any vehicle of transport, during regular business hours to have access to, to obtain samples of, and to examine records relating to distribution of, commercial feeds.

(f) Sampling and analysis shall be conducted in accordance with methods published by the AOAC International, or in accordance with other generally recognized methods.

(g) The results of all analyses of official samples shall be forwarded by the commissioner to the person named on the label. When the inspection and analysis of an official sample indicate a commercial feed has been adulterated or misbranded, the commissioner shall furnish to the registrant a portion of the sample concerned if the registrant requests it within thirty (30) days of notification.

(h) The commissioner, in determining for administrative purposes whether a commercial feed is deficient in any component, shall be guided by the official sample as defined in § 44-6-103 and obtained and analyzed as provided for in subsections (c), (e), and (f).