A. Whenever the Commissioner of Agriculture finds any dairy product, in whole or in part, that fails to meet the requirements of the Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, or that a product is handled in violation of law or rules of the State Board of Agriculture, a tag or other appropriate marking shall be affixed which shall give notice that the dairy product is, or is suspected of, being manufactured, produced, handled, sold, or offered for sale in violation of law or rules of the Board, and is quarantined, and warning all persons not to remove or dispose of the dairy product until permission for removal or disposal is given by the Commissioner. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or dispose of the dairy product quarantined without permission.
B. If the Commissioner finds that dairy product quarantined pursuant to subsection A of this section does not meet the requirements of law, or the rules, the Commissioner may institute an action in the district court in whose jurisdiction the dairy product is quarantined, for the condemnation and destruction of the dairy product. If the Commissioner finds that the dairy product quarantined does meet the requirements of law and the rules, the Commissioner shall remove the quarantine. In any court proceeding regarding a quarantine, the State Department of Agriculture or the Commissioner, shall not be held liable if the court finds probable cause for the quarantine.
C. If the court finds that a quarantined dairy product, in whole or in part, is in violation of the law, the dairy product shall be destroyed at the expense of the owner or defender, under the supervision of the Commissioner. All court costs, fees, cost of storage, and other proper expenses shall be paid by the owner or defender of the dairy product. The court may order that the dairy product be delivered to the owner or defendant for appropriate labeling or processing under the supervision of the Commissioner if the violation can be corrected by proper processing of the dairy product, all costs, fees, and expenses have been paid, and a sufficient bond is executed and conditioned for appropriate labeling or processing as the court may require. The expense of supervision shall be paid to the Commissioner by the person obtaining release of the dairy product under bond.
Added by Laws 1955, p. 53, art. 7(A), § 5. Amended by Laws 1987, c. 206, § 30, operative July 1, 1987; Laws 1987, c. 236, § 16, emerg. eff. July 20, 1987. Renumbered from Title 2, § 7-5 by Laws 1987, c. 206, § 97, operative July 1, 1987. Amended by Laws 1987, c. 236, § 205, emerg. eff. July 20, 1987; Laws 1994, c. 140, § 22, eff. Sept. 1, 1994. Renumbered from Title 63, § 1-1301.19 by Laws 1994, c. 140, § 30, eff. Sept. 1, 1994. Amended by Laws 2000, c. 367, § 83, emerg. eff. June 6, 2000.