§ 431.084 Emergency Permits for Foods Contaminated with Microorganisms

Codes > Texas Statutes and Codes > Health and : Title 6 > Subtitle A : Chapter 431 > Subchapter D : 431.084

§ 431.084. Emergency Permits for Foods Contaminated with Microorganisms

    (a) The commissioner shall provide for the issuance of temporary permits to a manufacturer, processor, or packer of a class of food in any locality that provides conditions for the manufacture, processing, or packing for the class of food as necessary to protect the public health only if the commissioner finds after investigation that:

        (1) the distribution in this state of a class of food may, because the food is contaminated with microorganisms during the manufacture, processing, or packing of the food in any locality, be injurious to health; and

        (2) the injurious nature of the food cannot be adequately determined after the food has entered commerce.

    (b) The board by rule shall establish standards and procedures for the enforcement of this section.

    (c) During the period for which permits are issued for a class of food determined by the commissioner to be injurious under Subsection (a), a person may not introduce or deliver for introduction into commerce the food unless the person is a manufacturer, processor, or packer who has a permit issued by the commissioner as authorized by rules adopted under this section.

    (d) The commissioner may immediately suspend a permit issued under this section if a condition of the permit is violated. An immediate suspension is effective on notice to the permit holder.

    (e) A holder of a permit that has been suspended may at any time apply for the reinstatement of the permit. Immediately after a hearing and an inspection of the permit holder's establishment, the commissioner shall reinstate the permit if adequate measures have been taken to comply with and maintain the conditions of the permit as originally issued or as amended.

    (f) A permit holder shall provide access to the permit holder's factory or establishment to an authorized agent to allow the agent to determine whether the permit holder complies with the conditions of the permit. Denial of access is grounds for suspension of the permit until the permit holder freely provides the access.