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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71262</law_id><section_number>3.2-5405</section_number><catch_line>Powers of Commissioner</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-5404</reference><reference>3.2-5407</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Food and Drink; Weights and Measures</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="54">Slaughterhouses, Meat, and Dressed Poultry</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may: <a id="paragraph-256835" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> <span class="dictionary">Order</span> removal of <span class="dictionary">inspectors</span> from any establishment that fails to destroy condemned products as required under subdivision 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Duties of the Board" href="/3.2-5404/">3.2-5404</a>; <a id="paragraph-256836" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> <span class="dictionary">Order</span> cessation of inspection service under this chapter with respect to any establishment for causes specified in &#xA7; 671 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act or &#xA7; 467 of the federal <span class="dictionary">Poultry Products</span> Inspection Act; <a id="paragraph-256837" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> <span class="dictionary">Order</span> <span class="dictionary">labeling</span> and <span class="dictionary">containers</span> to be withheld from use if he determines that the <span class="dictionary">labeling</span> is false or misleading or the <span class="dictionary">containers</span> are of a misleading size or form; <a id="paragraph-256838" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Require that equines be slaughtered and <span class="dictionary">prepared</span> in establishments separate from establishments where other <span class="dictionary">livestock</span> are slaughtered or their products are <span class="dictionary">prepared</span>; <a id="paragraph-256839" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Appoint and prescribe the duties of such <span class="dictionary">inspectors</span> and other personnel as he deems necessary for the efficient execution of the provisions of this chapter; <a id="paragraph-256840" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Cooperate with the U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Agriculture in administration of this chapter to effectuate the purposes stated in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Department to cooperate with U.S. Department of Agriculture" href="/3.2-5403/">3.2-5403</a>; accept federal assistance for that purpose and spend public funds of the Commonwealth appropriated for administration of this chapter to pay 50 percent of the estimated total cost of the cooperative program; <a id="paragraph-256841" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Recommend to the U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Agriculture for appointment to the advisory committees provided for in the <span class="dictionary">federal acts</span>, such officials or employees of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> as the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall designate; <a id="paragraph-256842" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Serve as the representative of the Governor for consultation with said Secretary under &#xA7; 661(c) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and &#xA7; 454(c) of the federal <span class="dictionary">Poultry Products</span> Inspection Act unless the Governor selects another representative; and <a id="paragraph-256843" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Exempt the operations of any person from inspection or other requirements of this article if and to the extent such operations would be exempt from the corresponding requirements under the <span class="dictionary">federal acts</span> if they were conducted in or for interstate commerce or if the Commonwealth was designated under the <span class="dictionary">federal acts</span> as one in which the federal requirements apply to intrastate commerce. <a id="paragraph-256844" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#A9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued under subdivisions 1, 2, or 3 of subsection A shall be final unless appealed in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-256845" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5405/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1970, c. 290, &#xA7;&#xA7; 3.1-884.21, 3.1-884.30; 1986, c. 615; 2008, c. 860; 2020, c. 318.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
