(1) Whenever a duly authorized agent of the department finds or has probable cause to believe that any food, drug, device, or cosmetic is adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of this part 4, he shall affix to such article a tag or other appropriate marking giving notice that such article is, or is suspected of being, adulterated or misbranded and has been detained or embargoed and warning all persons not to remove or dispose of such article by sale or otherwise until provision for removal or disposal is given by the department or such agent or the court. No person shall remove or dispose of such embargoed article by sale or otherwise without the permission of the department or its agent or, after summary proceedings have been instituted, without permission from the court. If the embargo is removed by the department or by the court, neither the department nor the state shall be held liable for damages because of such embargo in the event that the court finds that there was probable cause for the embargo.
When an article detained or embargoed under subsection (1) of this section has beenfound by such agent to be adulterated or misbranded, he shall petition the judge of the district court in whose jurisdiction the article is detained or embargoed for an order for condemnation of such article. When such agent finds that an article so detained or embargoed is not adulterated or misbranded, he shall remove the tag or other marking.
If the court finds that a detained or embargoed article is adulterated or misbranded,such article shall, after entry of the decree, be destroyed at the expense of the claimant thereof, under the supervision of such agent, and all court costs and fees and storage and other proper expense shall be taxed against the claimant of such article or his agent; except that, when the adulteration or misbranding can be corrected by proper labeling or processing of the article, the court, after entry of the decree and after such costs, fees, and expenses have been paid and a good and sufficient bond, conditioned that such article shall be so labeled or processed, has been executed, may by order direct that such article be delivered to the claimant thereof for such labeling or processing under the supervision of an agent of the department. The expense of such supervision shall be paid by the claimant. Such bond shall be returned to the claimant of the article on representation to the court by the department that the article is no longer in violation of this part 4 and that the expenses of such supervision have been paid.
Whenever the department or any of its authorized agents find in any room, building,vehicle of transportation, or other structure any meat, seafood, poultry, vegetable, fruit, or other perishable articles which are unsound or contain any filthy, decomposed, or putrid substance or which may be poisonous or deleterious to health or otherwise unsafe, the same being hereby declared to be a nuisance, the department or its authorized agent shall forthwith condemn or destroy the same or in any other manner render the same unsalable as human food.
Source: L. 57: p. 428, § 6. CRS 53: § 66-22-6. C.R.S. 1963: § 66-20-6. L. 64: p. 273, § 179.