Connecticut General Statutes Title 22. Agriculture. Domestic Animals § 22-39g. Food Safety Modernization Act. Requirements for produce farms. Enforcement. Inspections. Inspection certificate. Voluntary submission to inspection. Orders. Emergency orders. Recordkeeping. Regulations

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(b) The department may enforce the rules adopted under the federal act for standards for produce farms provided nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or interfere with the authority of the department or the commissioner pursuant to this title or chapters 491  1 and 492. 2 The commissioner may consult and collaborate with any federal or state agency, municipality or political subdivision of the state concerning application of the provisions of the federal act and the rules adopted pursuant to the federal act, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, and may enter into cooperative agreements with any such federal or state agency, municipality or political subdivision of the state as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(d) The department may conduct an inspection of a produce farm that is not subject to the requirements of the federal act upon request of the owner or operator of such produce farm. Such request for inspection shall authorize the commissioner to inspect such produce farm in accordance with the provisions of the federal act and issue a certificate in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (2) of subsection (c) of this section.

(e) The department may issue orders necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section, including, but not limited to, orders for the embargo, destruction, quarantine and release of produce, provided nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or interfere with the authority of the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to chapters 417  3 and 418  4 or the department or the commissioner pursuant to this title or chapters 491 and 492. Any person aggrieved by any such order may request a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. 5

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the commissioner's authority to issue an emergency order pursuant to section 22-4d in order to respond to an emergency that may present a public health hazard.

(g) The owner or operator of a produce farm subject to the requirements of the federal act, or any owner or operator who requests an inspection pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, shall maintain records required by the federal act, any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to such federal act concerning produce farming and any regulation adopted pursuant to this section. The owner or operator of such produce farm shall make such records available to the department upon request of the commissioner or the commissioner's agent.

(h) The commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioners of Public Health and Consumer Protection, may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, that the commissioner deems necessary to implement the provisions of this section and any corresponding requirements under the federal act.