Rhode Island General Laws Title 21. Food and Drugs § 21-31-12. Contamination of food with microorganisms--Suspension of permit--Inspection

(a) Whenever the director of health finds after investigation that the distribution in Rhode Island of any class of food may, by reason of contamination with microorganisms during manufacture, processing, or packing of it in any locality, be injurious to health, and that the injurious nature cannot be adequately determined after the articles have entered commerce, it then, and only in that case, shall promulgate regulations providing for the issuance, to manufacturers, processors, or packers of that class of food in the locality, of permits to which shall be attached any conditions governing the manufacture, processing, or packing of that class of food, and for any temporary period of time that may be necessary to protect the public health;  and after the effective date of the regulations and during the temporary period, no person shall introduce or deliver for introduction into commerce that food manufactured, processed, or packed by any manufacturer, processor, or packer unless the manufacturer, processor, or packer holds a permit issued by the director of health as provided by regulation.

(b) The director of health is authorized to suspend immediately upon notice any permit issued under authority of this section if it is found that any of the conditions of the permit have been violated.  The holder of a permit suspended shall be privileged at any time to apply for the reinstatement of the permit, and the director of health shall, immediately after a prompt hearing and inspection of the establishment, reinstate the permit if it is found that adequate measures have been taken to comply with and maintain the conditions of the permit, as originally issued, or as amended.

(c) Any officer or employee duly designated by the director of health shall have access to any factory or establishment, the operator of which holds a permit from the director of health, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the conditions of the permit are being complied with, and denial of access for the inspection shall be ground for suspension of the permit until access is freely given by the operator.