(a) Purpose. It is hereby declared that the purpose of this chapter is to protect, preserve and promote the public health and well-being of the people of the Virgin islands, to minimize the incidence of communicable diseases and to regulate the inspection of dairy farms, milk and milk product plants and provide for the examination, labeling, pasteurization, distribution and sale of milk and milk products. It is hereby further declared that the purpose of this chapter is to:
(1) Establish minimum chemical, bacteriological and temperature standards for milk and milk products and an adequate level of operation and maintenance and provision for the administration and enforcement thereof.
(2) Ensure, without undue burden on either the regulatory agency or the dairy industry, that milk and milk products sold or offered for sale in the territory of the Virgin Islands are produced under sanitary conditions, are wholesome and fit for human consumption, and are correctly labeled as to grade, quality, and source of production.
(3) Encourage uniformity and a high level of sanitation and quality control in milk production and distribution practices in the territory.
(4) Facilitate the shipment and acceptance of milk and milk products produced in the Virgin Islands of high sanitary quality in interstate and intrastate commerce, including interstate conveyances including, air carriers and cruise ships.
(5) Ensure the normal flow of fresh wholesome milk and milk products from the farmer to the consumer, and the viability of dairy farms and milk and milk products processing plants in the Virgin Islands.
(b) Intent. It is the intent of the Legislature to:
(1) Eliminate, to the extent practicable, overlapping and unnecessary inspections of dairy farms and milk plants which may be performed by any agency of local government.
(2) Pay for the regulation of milk and milk products, except as otherwise provided, through the assessment of permit fees upon Milk Plants and Milk Distributors, assuring that enterprises importing milk into the Virgin Islands pay a proportion of the cost of this enforcement.
(3) It is not the intent of the Legislature to limit the authority of any agency of state or local government to take immediate action incident to the production, processing, or distribution of milk and milk products when such action is necessary to protect the public health.