{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-5131.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-5131.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-5131.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-5131.html"}],"law_id":75024,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75024,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5131","catch_line":"Right to enter and take samples","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 3-326; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-405; 2008, c. 860.","full_text":"The Commissioner is empowered, in the performance of his duties, to enter into any place where he has reason to believe food or drink is made, stored, sold, or offered for sale, and open any cask, tub, jar, bottle, or package containing or supposed to contain, any article of food or drink, and examine or cause to be examined the contents, and take samples for analysis. The person making such inspection shall take samples of the article or produce in the presence of at least one witness, and shall, in the presence of the witness, mark or seal the sample. The inspector shall tender at the time of taking to the manufacturer or vendor of the product, or to the person having the custody of the product, the value thereof, and the statement in writing for the taking of the sample.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":269479,"text":"The Commissioner is empowered, in the performance of his duties, to enter into any place where he has reason to believe food or drink is made, stored, sold, or offered for sale, and open any cask, tub, jar, bottle, or package containing or supposed to contain, any article of food or drink, and examine or cause to be examined the contents, and take samples for analysis. The person making such inspection shall take samples of the article or produce in the presence of at least one witness, and shall, in the presence of the witness, mark or seal the sample. The inspector shall tender at the time of taking to the manufacturer or vendor of the product, or to the person having the custody of the product, the value thereof, and the statement in writing for the taking of the sample.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14568,"edition_id":1,"name":"Seizures, Prosecutions, Penalties, and Enforcement","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14561,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:41","permalink":{"id":197255,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14568,"identifier":"4","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4","url":"\/3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14561,"edition_id":1,"name":"Food and Drink","identifier":"51","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12965,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:40","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:40","permalink":{"id":197127,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14561,"identifier":"51","token":"3.2\/IV\/51","url":"\/3.2\/IV\/51\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12965,"edition_id":1,"name":"Food and Drink; Weights and Measures","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12793,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":197125,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12965,"identifier":"IV","token":"3.2\/IV","url":"\/3.2\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12793,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":193939,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12793,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":58815,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5129","catch_line":"Definition of term \"food.\"","url":"\/3.2-5129\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5129","metadata":false},{"id":59766,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5130","catch_line":"Inspections required to operate food establishment","url":"\/3.2-5130\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5130","metadata":false},{"id":75024,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5131","catch_line":"Right to enter and take samples","url":"\/3.2-5131\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5131","metadata":false},{"id":76586,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5132","catch_line":"Notice and warning to place premises in sanitary condition","url":"\/3.2-5132\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5132","metadata":false},{"id":64659,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5133","catch_line":"Failure to obey such notice and warning a misdemeanor","url":"\/3.2-5133\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5133","metadata":false},{"id":82806,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5134","catch_line":"Condemnation of unsafe food by Commissioner","url":"\/3.2-5134\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5134","metadata":false},{"id":75373,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5135","catch_line":"Authority to seize food and dairy products; analysis; disposition of remainder","url":"\/3.2-5135\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5135","metadata":false},{"id":72080,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5136","catch_line":"Purchase of samples for analysis","url":"\/3.2-5136\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5136","metadata":false},{"id":56211,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5137","catch_line":"Proceeding for forfeiture","url":"\/3.2-5137\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5137","metadata":false},{"id":76257,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5138","catch_line":"Judgment as to goods seized; procedure before an appropriate court; appeal","url":"\/3.2-5138\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5138","metadata":false},{"id":84491,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5139","catch_line":"Disposition of proceeds from sale of such goods","url":"\/3.2-5139\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5139","metadata":false},{"id":59638,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5140","catch_line":"Attorney for the Commonwealth to render legal assistance","url":"\/3.2-5140\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5140","metadata":false},{"id":75162,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5141","catch_line":"General duty of attorneys for the Commonwealth; compensation","url":"\/3.2-5141\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5141","metadata":false},{"id":81702,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5142","catch_line":"Punishment for hindering Commissioner","url":"\/3.2-5142\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5142","metadata":false},{"id":56040,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5143","catch_line":"Enforcement against companies","url":"\/3.2-5143\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5143","metadata":false},{"id":72613,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5144","catch_line":"Exemption from civil and criminal liability in certain cases","url":"\/3.2-5144\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5144","metadata":false},{"id":76620,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5145","catch_line":"Punishment for failure to comply with requirements of certain chapters","url":"\/3.2-5145\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5145","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59766,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5130","catch_line":"Inspections required to operate food establishment","url":"\/3.2-5130\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5130","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":76586,"structure_id":14568,"section_number":"3.2-5132","catch_line":"Notice and warning to place premises in sanitary condition","url":"\/3.2-5132\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5132","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-5131\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1966, chapter 702; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":197265,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75024,"identifier":"3.2-5131","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5131","url":"\/3.2-5131\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-5131\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/4\/3.2-5131","dublin_core":{"Title":"Right to enter and take samples","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-5131","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Commissioner<\/span> is empowered, in the performance of his duties, to enter into any place where he has reason to believe food or drink is made, stored, sold, or offered for sale, and open any cask, tub, jar, bottle, or package containing or supposed to contain, any article of food or drink, and examine or cause to be examined the contents, and take samples for analysis. The person making such inspection shall take samples of the article or produce in the presence of at least one witness<\/span>, and shall, in the presence of the witness<\/span>, mark or seal the sample. The inspector shall tender at the time of taking to the manufacturer or vendor of the product, or to the person having the custody<\/span> of the product, the value thereof, and the statement in writing for the taking of the sample.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRIGHT TO ENTER AND TAKE SAMPLES (\u00a7 3.2-5131)\n\nThe Commissioner is empowered, in the performance of his duties, to enter into\nany place where he has reason to believe food or drink is made, stored, sold, or\noffered for sale, and open any cask, tub, jar, bottle, or package containing or\nsupposed to contain, any article of food or drink, and examine or cause to be\nexamined the contents, and take samples for analysis. The person making such\ninspection shall take samples of the article or produce in the presence of at\nleast one witness, and shall, in the presence of the witness, mark or seal the\nsample. The inspector shall tender at the time of taking to the manufacturer or\nvendor of the product, or to the person having the custody of the product, the\nvalue thereof, and the statement in writing for the taking of the sample.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 3-326; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-405; 2008, c. 860.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}