CHAPTER 189A
MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION

Referred to in §137D.1, 137F.1, 163.6, 556H.1, 672.1, 716.7A
Poultry and domestic fowls, chapter 197

  
     
189A.1  Title.
  This chapter shall be known as the “Meat and Poultry Inspection Act”.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.1]

  
     
189A.2  Definitions.
  As used in this chapter except as otherwise specified:
  1.  “Adulterated” shall apply to any livestock product or poultry product under any one or more of the following circumstances:
  a.  If it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health; but in case the substance is not an added substance such article shall not be considered adulterated under this clause if the quantity of such substance in or on such article does not ordinarily render it injurious to health.
  b.  (1)  If it bears or contains, by reason of administration of any substance to the livestock or poultry or otherwise, any added poisonous or deleterious substance, other than one which is a pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity; a food additive; or a color additive, which may, in the judgment of the secretary, make such article unfit for human food.
  (2)  If it is, in whole or in part, a raw agricultural commodity and such commodity bears or contains a pesticide chemical which is unsafe within the meaning of section 408 of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
  (3)  If it bears or contains any food additive which is unsafe within the meaning of section 409 of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
  (4)  If it bears or contains any color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of section 706 of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; however, an article which is not otherwise deemed adulterated under subparagraph (2), (3), or (4) of this paragraph shall nevertheless be deemed adulterated if use of the pesticide chemical, food additive, or color additive in or on such article is prohibited by regulations of the secretary in official establishments.
  c.  If it consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or is for any other reason unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food.
  d.  If it has been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health.
  e.  If it is, in whole or in part, the product of an animal, including poultry, which has died otherwise than by slaughter.
  f.  If its container is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health.
  g.  If it has been intentionally subjected to radiation, unless the use of the radiation was in conformity with a regulation or exemption in effect pursuant to section 409 of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
  h.  If any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted therefrom; or if any substance has been substituted, wholly or in part therefor; or if damage or inferiority has been concealed in any manner; or if any substance has been added thereto or mixed or packed therewith so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength, or make it appear better or of greater value than it is.
  i.  If it is margarine containing animal fat and any of the raw material used therein consisted in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance.
  2.  “Animal food manufacturer” means any person engaged in the business of preparing animal food, including poultry, derived wholly or in part from livestock or poultry carcasses or parts or products of such carcasses.
  3.  “Broker” means any person engaged in the business of buying or selling livestock products or poultry products on commission, or otherwise negotiating purchases or sales of such articles other than for the person’s own account or as an employee of another person.
  4.  “Capable of use as human food” shall apply to any livestock or poultry carcass, or part or product of any such carcass, unless it is denatured or otherwise identified as required by regulations prescribed by the secretary to deter its use as human food, or it is naturally inedible by humans.
  5.  “Container” or “package” means any box, can, tin, cloth, plastic or other receptacle, wrapper, or cover.
  6.  “Establishment” means all premises where animals or poultry are slaughtered or otherwise prepared, either for custom, resale, or retail, for food purposes, meat or poultry canneries, sausage factories, smoking or curing operations, restaurants, grocery stores, brokerages, cold storage plants, and similar places.
  6A.  “Farm deer” means the same as defined in section 170.1.
  7.  “Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act” means the Act so entitled, approved June 25, 1938, 52 Stat. 1040, and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.
  8.  “Federal Meat Inspection Act” means the Act so entitled, approved March 4, 1907, 34 Stat. 1260, as amended by the Wholesome Meat Act, 81 Stat. 584; “Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act” means the Act so entitled, approved August 28, 1957, 71 Stat. 441, as amended by the Wholesome Poultry Products Act, 82 Stat. 791; and “federal Acts” means these two federal laws.
  9.  “Immediate container” means any consumer package; or any other container in which livestock products or poultry products, not consumer packaged, are packed.
  10.  “Inspector” means an employee or official of the department authorized by the secretary or any employee or official of the government of any county or other governmental subdivision of this state, authorized by the secretary to perform any inspection functions under this chapter under an agreement between the secretary and such governmental subdivision.
  11.  “Intrastate commerce” means commerce within this state.
  12.  “Label” means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon any article or the immediate container, not including package liners, of any article.
  13.  “Labeling” means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter either upon any article or any of its containers or wrappers, or accompanying such article.
  14.  “Livestock” means a live or dead animal which is limited to cattle, sheep, swine, goats, farm deer, or which is classified as an equine including a horse or mule.
  15.  “Livestock product” means any carcass, part thereof, meat, or meat food product of any livestock.
  16.  “Meat food product” means any product capable of use as human food which is made wholly or in part from any meat or other portion of the carcass of any cattle, sheep, swine, or goats, excepting products which contain meat or other portions of such carcasses only in a relatively small proportion or historically have not been considered by consumers as products of the meat food industry, and which are exempted from definition as a meat food product by the secretary under such conditions as the secretary may prescribe to assure that the meat or other portions of such carcass contained in such product are not adulterated and that such products are not represented as meat food products. This term as applied to food products of equines or farm deer shall have a meaning comparable to that provided in this paragraph with respect to cattle, sheep, swine, and goats.
  17.  “Misbranded” shall apply to any livestock product or poultry product under any one or more of the following circumstances:
  a.  If its labeling is false or misleading in any particular.
  b.  If it is offered for sale under the name of another food.
  c.  If it is an imitation of another food, unless its label bears, in type of uniform size and prominence, the word “imitation”, and immediately thereafter the name of the food imitated.
  d.  If its container is so made, formed, or filled as to be misleading.
  e.  Unless it bears a label showing both:
  (1)  The name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.
  (2)  An accurate statement of the quantity of the product in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count; however, under this paragraph, exemptions as to livestock products not in containers may be established by regulations prescribed by the secretary, and under this subparagraph reasonable variations may be permitted, and exemptions as to small packages may be established for livestock products or poultry products by regulations prescribed by the secretary.
  f.  If any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this chapter to appear on the label or other labeling is not prominently placed thereon with such conspicuousness, as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices in the labeling, and in such terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use.
  g.  If it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity or composition has been prescribed by the regulations of the secretary under section 189A.7, unless it conforms to such definition and standard and its label bears the name of the food specified in the definition and standard and, insofar as may be required by such regulations, the common names of optional ingredients, other than spices, flavoring, and coloring, present in such food.
  h.  If it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a standard or standards of fill of container have been prescribed by regulations of the secretary under section 189A.7, and it falls below the standard of fill of container applicable thereto, unless its label bears, in such manner and form as such regulations specify, a statement that it falls below such standard.
  i.  If it is not subject to the provisions of paragraph “g” of this subsection, unless its label bears both:
  (1)  The common or usual name of the food, if any.
  (2)  In case it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each such ingredient; except that spices, flavorings, and colorings may, when authorized by the secretary, be designated as spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each; however, to the extent that compliance with the requirements of this subparagraph is impracticable, or results in deception or unfair competition, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the secretary.
  j.  If it purports to be or is represented for special dietary uses, unless its label bears such information concerning its vitamin, mineral, and other dietary properties as the secretary, after consultation with the secretary of agriculture of the United States, determines to be and by regulations prescribes as necessary in order to fully inform purchasers as to its value for such uses.
  k.  If it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless it bears labeling stating that fact; however, to the extent that compliance with the requirements of this paragraph is impracticable, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the secretary.
  l.  If it fails to bear, directly thereon and on its containers, as the secretary may by regulations prescribe, the official inspection legend and establishment number of the establishment where the product was prepared and, unrestricted by any of the foregoing, such other information as the secretary may require in such regulations to assure that it will not have false or misleading labeling and that the public will be informed of the manner of handling required to maintain the article in a wholesome condition.
  18.  “Official certificate” means any certificate prescribed by regulations of the secretary for issuance by an inspector or other person performing official functions under this chapter.
  19.  “Official device” means any device prescribed or authorized by the secretary for use in applying any official mark.
  20.  “Official establishment” means any establishment as determined by the secretary at which inspection of the slaughter of livestock or poultry or the preparation of livestock products or poultry products is maintained under the authority of this chapter.
  21.  “Official inspection legend” means any symbol prescribed by regulations of the secretary showing that an article was inspected and passed in accordance with this chapter.
  22.  “Official mark” means the official inspection legend or any other symbol prescribed by regulations of the secretary to identify the status of any article or livestock or poultry under this chapter.
  23.  “Person” includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other business unit, and any officer, agent, or employee thereof.
  24.  “Pesticide chemical”, “food additive”, “color additive”, and “raw agricultural commodity” shall have the same meanings for purposes of this chapter as under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
  25.  “Poultry” means any domesticated bird, whether live or dead.
  26.  “Poultry product” means any poultry carcass or part thereof, or any product which is made wholly or in part from any poultry carcass or part thereof, excepting products which contain poultry ingredients only in a relatively small proportion or historically have not been considered by consumers as products of the poultry food industry, and which are exempted by the secretary from definition as a poultry product under such conditions as the secretary may prescribe to assure that the poultry ingredients in such products are not adulterated and that such products are not represented as poultry products.
  27.  “Prepared” means slaughtered, canned, salted, stuffed, rendered, boned, cut up, or otherwise manufactured or processed.
  28.  “Reinspection” includes inspection of the preparation of livestock products and poultry products, as well as re-examination of articles previously inspected.
  29.  “Renderer” means any person engaged in the business of rendering livestock or poultry carcasses, or parts or products of such carcasses, except rendering conducted under inspection or exemption under this chapter.
  30.  “Shipping container” means any container used or intended for use in packaging the product packed in an immediate container.
  31.  “Veterinary inspector” means a graduate veterinarian with appropriate training to perform the inspection functions under the provisions of this chapter.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.2]
86 Acts, ch 1245, §637; 95 Acts, ch 134, §1 – 3; 2003 Acts, ch 149, §12, 23; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §39
Referred to in §163.6, 189A.5, 189A.17, 716.7A, 717A.1
Further definitions, see §189.1 

  
     
189A.3  License — fee.
  1.  a.  A person shall not operate an establishment without first obtaining a license from the department.
  b.  Paragraph “a” does not apply to any of the following:
  (1)  A food establishment as defined in section 137F.1.
  (2)  A person who slaughters, processes, or prepares livestock or poultry of the person’s own raising, exclusively for the person’s household, nonpaying guests, or nonpaying employees.
  2.  The license fee for each establishment per year or any part of a year shall be:
  a.  For all meat and poultry slaughtered or otherwise prepared not exceeding twenty thousand pounds per year for sale, resale, or custom, twenty-five dollars.
  b.  For all meat and poultry slaughtered or otherwise prepared in excess of twenty thousand pounds per year for sale, resale, or custom, fifty dollars.
  3.  The moneys shall be deposited with the department. The license year shall be from July 1 to June 30. Applications for licenses shall be in writing on forms prescribed by the department.
  4.  It is the objective of this chapter to provide for meat and poultry products inspection programs that will impose and enforce requirements with respect to intrastate operations and commerce that are at least equal to those imposed and enforced under the federal Meat Inspection Act and the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act with respect to operations and transactions in interstate commerce; and the secretary is directed to administer this chapter so as to accomplish this purpose. A director of the meat and poultry inspection service shall be designated as the secretary’s delegate to be the appropriate state official to cooperate with the secretary of agriculture of the United States in administration of this chapter.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.3]
98 Acts, ch 1162, §26, 30; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §263; 2022 Acts, ch 1016, §1
Referred to in §137F.1, 189A.5, 189A.7

     
189A.4  Exemptions.
  In order to accomplish the objectives of this chapter, the secretary may exempt the following types of operations from inspection:
  1.  Slaughtering and preparation by any person of livestock and poultry of the person’s own raising exclusively for use by the person and members of the person’s household, and the person’s nonpaying guests and employees.
  2.  Any other operations which the secretary may determine would best be exempted to further the purposes of this chapter, to the extent such exemptions conform to the federal Meat Inspection Act and the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act and the regulations thereunder.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.4]
Referred to in §189A.5

  
     
189A.5  Veterinarians and inspectors.
  1.  The secretary shall administer this chapter and may appoint a person to act as the secretary’s designee in the administration of this chapter.
  a.  The secretary shall employ veterinarians licensed in the state of Iowa as veterinary inspectors.
  b.  The secretary is also authorized to employ as meat inspectors other persons who have qualified and are skilled in the inspection of meat and poultry products and any other additional employees the secretary deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The meat inspectors shall be under the supervision of the secretary’s designee or a veterinary inspector if no designee is appointed.
  c.  The secretary may also enter into contracts with qualified individuals to perform inspection services as the secretary may designate for a fee per head or per unit volume to be determined by the secretary provided the persons are not employed in an establishment in which the inspection takes place.
  d.  The secretary may utilize any employee, agent, or equipment of the department in the enforcement of this chapter, and may assign to inspectors other duties related to the acceptance of meat and poultry products.
  2.  In order to accomplish the objectives stated in section 189A.3 the secretary shall:
  a.  By regulations require antemortem and postmortem inspections, quarantine, segregation, and reinspections with respect to the slaughter of livestock and poultry and the preparation of livestock products and poultry products at all establishments in this state, except those exempted by section 189A.4, at which livestock or poultry are slaughtered or livestock or poultry products are prepared for human food solely for distribution in intrastate commerce.
  b.  By regulations require the identification of livestock and poultry for inspection purposes and the marking and labeling of livestock products or poultry products or their containers, or both, as “Iowa Inspected and Passed” if the products are found upon inspection to be not adulterated, and as “Iowa Inspected and Condemned” if they are found upon inspection to be adulterated; and the destruction for food purposes of all such condemned products under the supervision of an inspector.
  c.  Prohibit the entry into official establishments of livestock products and poultry products not prepared under federal inspection or inspection pursuant to this chapter and further limit the entry of such articles and other materials into such establishments under such conditions as the secretary deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
  d.  By regulations require that when livestock products and poultry products leave official establishments they shall bear directly thereon or on their containers, or both, all information required by section 189A.2, subsection 17; and require approval of all labeling and containers to be used for such products when sold or transported in intrastate commerce to assure that they comply with the requirements of this chapter.
  e.  Investigate the sanitary conditions of each establishment within paragraph “a” of this subsection and withdraw or otherwise refuse to provide inspection service at any such establishment where the sanitary conditions are such as to render adulterated any livestock products or poultry products prepared or handled at the establishment.
  f.  Prescribe regulations relating to sanitation for all establishments required to have inspection under paragraph “a” of this subsection.
  g.  By regulations require that both of the following classes of persons shall keep such records and for such periods as are specified in the regulations to fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in their business, and to afford the secretary and the secretary’s representatives, including representatives of other governmental agencies designated by the secretary, access to such places of business, and opportunity at all reasonable times to examine the facilities, inventory, and records thereof, to copy the records, and to take reasonable samples of the inventory upon payment of the fair market value therefor:
  (1)  Any person that engages in or for intrastate commerce in the business of slaughtering any livestock or poultry, or preparing, freezing, packaging or labeling, buying or selling, as a broker, wholesaler, or otherwise, transporting, or storing any livestock products or poultry products for human or animal food.
  (2)  Any person that engages in or for intrastate commerce in business as a renderer or in the business of buying, selling, or transporting any dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock or poultry or parts of the carcasses of any such animals, including poultry, that died otherwise than by slaughter.
[C66, §170.20, 189A.5, 189A.7, 189A.8, 189A.10; C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.5]
87 Acts, ch 144, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §206; 2023 Acts, ch 64, §26
Referred to in §189A.7, 189A.10
Subsection 2, paragraph e amended

  
     
189A.6  Health examination of employees.
  The operator of any establishment shall require all employees of such establishment to have a health examination by a physician or physician assistant and a certified health certificate for each employee shall be kept on file by the operator. The secretary may at any time require an employee of an establishment to submit to a health examination by a physician or physician assistant. No person suffering from any communicable disease, including any communicable skin disease, and no person with infected wounds, and no person who is a “carrier” of a communicable disease shall be employed in any capacity in an establishment. No person shall work or be employed in or about any establishment during the time in which a communicable disease exists in the home in which such person resides unless such person has obtained a certificate from a physician or physician assistant to the effect that no danger of public contagion or infection will result from the employment of such person in such establishment. Every person employed by an establishment and engaged in direct physical contact with meat or poultry products during its preparation, processing, or storage, shall be clean in person, wear clean washable outer garments and a suitable cap or other head covering used exclusively in such work. Only persons specifically designated by the operator of an establishment shall be permitted to touch meat or poultry products with their hands, and the persons so designated shall keep their hands scrupulously clean.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.6]
2022 Acts, ch 1066, §21

     
189A.7  Powers of secretary of agriculture.
  In order to accomplish the objective stated in section 189A.3 the secretary may:
  1.  Remove inspectors from any establishment that fails to destroy condemned products as required under section 189A.5, subsection 2, paragraph “b”.
  2.  Refuse to provide inspection service under this chapter with respect to any establishment for causes specified in section 401 of the federal Meat Inspection Act or section 18 of the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act.
  3.  Order labeling and containers to be withheld from use if the secretary determines that the labeling is false or misleading or the containers are of a misleading size or form.
  4.  By regulations prescribe the sizes and style of type to be used for labeling information required under this chapter, and definitions and standards of identity or composition or standards of fill of container, consistent with federal standards, when the secretary deems such action appropriate for the protection of the public and after consultation with the secretary of agriculture of the United States.
  5.  By regulations prescribe conditions of storage and handling of livestock products and poultry products by persons engaged in the business of buying, selling, freezing, storing, or transporting such articles in or for intrastate commerce to assure that such articles will not be adulterated or misbranded when delivered to the consumer.
  6.  Require that equines be slaughtered and prepared in establishments separate from establishments where other livestock are slaughtered or their products are prepared.
  7.  By regulations require that every person engaged in business in or for intrastate commerce as a broker, renderer, animal food manufacturer, or wholesaler or public warehouser of livestock or poultry products, or engaged in the business of buying, selling, or transporting in intrastate commerce any dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock or poultry or parts of the carcasses of any such animals, including poultry, that died otherwise than by slaughter shall register with the secretary the person’s name and the address of each place of business at which and all trade names under which the person conducts such business.
  8.  Adopt by reference or otherwise such provisions of the rules and regulations under the federal Acts, with such changes therein as the secretary deems appropriate to make them applicable to operations and transactions subject to this chapter, which shall have the same force and effect as if promulgated under this chapter, and promulgate such other rules and regulations as the secretary deems necessary for the efficient execution of the provisions of this chapter, including rules of practice providing opportunity for hearing in connection with issuance of orders under section 189A.5, subsection 2, paragraph “e”, and subsection 1, 2, or 3 of this section and prescribing procedures for proceedings in such cases; however, this shall not preclude a requirement that a label or container be withheld from use, or a refusal of inspection pursuant to the sections cited herein pending issuance of a final order in any such proceeding.
  9.  Appoint and prescribe the duties of such inspectors and other personnel as the secretary deems necessary for the efficient execution of the provisions of this chapter.
  10.  Cooperate with the secretary of agriculture of the United States in administration of this chapter to effectuate the purposes stated in section 189A.3; accept federal assistance for that purpose and spend public funds of this state appropriated for administration of this chapter to pay the state’s proportionate share of the estimated total cost of the cooperative program.
  11.  Recommend to the secretary of agriculture of the United States for appointment to the advisory committees provided for in the federal Acts, such officials or employees of the Iowa meat and poultry inspection service as the secretary shall designate.
  12.  Serve as a representative of the governor for consultation with the secretary of agriculture of the United States under paragraph “c” of section 301 of the federal Meat Inspection Act and paragraph “c” of section 5 of the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act unless the governor selects another representative.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.7]
2009 Acts, ch 41, §207; 2023 Acts, ch 66, §41
Referred to in §189A.2, 189A.10
Subsection 12 amended

     
189A.8  Prohibited acts.
  1.  No person shall sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation in intrastate commerce, any carcasses of horses, mules, or other equines or parts of such carcasses, or the meat or meat food products thereof, unless they are plainly and conspicuously marked or labeled or otherwise identified as required by regulations prescribed by the secretary to show the kinds of animals from which they were derived.
  2.  No person shall buy, sell, transport, or offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation, in intrastate commerce, any livestock products or poultry products which are not intended for use as human food unless they are denatured or otherwise identified as required by the regulations of the secretary or are naturally inedible by humans.
  3.  No person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or transporting in intrastate commerce, dead, dying, disabled, or diseased animals, or any parts of the carcasses of any animals that died otherwise than by slaughter, shall buy, sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation in such commerce, any dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock or poultry or the products of any such animals that died otherwise than by slaughter, unless such transaction or transportation is made in accordance with such regulations as the secretary may prescribe to assure that such animals, or the unwholesome parts or products thereof, will be prevented from being used for human food purposes.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.8]

     
189A.9  Hours of operation.
  1.  The secretary may require operations at licensed establishments to be conducted during reasonable hours. The owner or operator of each licensed establishment shall keep the secretary informed in advance of intended hours of operation.
  2.  A charge shall be made for overtime inspection in excess of eight hours per day or outside assigned work schedules and also on state legal holidays.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.9]

     
189A.10  Fraudulent practices.
  1.  A person commits a fraudulent practice as defined in section 714.8 if the person does any of the following:
  a.  Slaughters livestock or poultry or prepares an article produced from livestock or poultry which is capable of use as human food, at any establishment preparing the article solely for intrastate commerce, except in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
  b.  Sells, transports, offers for sale or transportation, or receives for transportation in intrastate commerce, any article produced from livestock or poultry which is both of the following:
  (1)  Capable of use as human food.
  (2)  Adulterated or misbranded at the time of such sale, transportation, offer for sale or transportation, or receipt for transportation; or required to be inspected under this chapter unless the article has passed inspection.
  c.  Commits any act which is intended to cause or has the effect of causing an article produced from livestock or poultry to be adulterated or misbranded, if the article is capable of use as human food and is being transported or held for sale after being transported in intrastate commerce.
  2.  A person commits a fraudulent practice as defined in section 714.8, if the person sells, transports, offers for sale or transportation, or receives for transportation in intrastate commerce, or receives from an official establishment, any slaughtered poultry from which the blood, feathers, feet, head, or viscera have not been removed in accordance with regulations promulgated by the secretary.
  3.  No person shall violate any provision of the regulations or orders of the secretary under section 189A.5, subsection 2, paragraph “g”, or section 189A.7.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.10]
88 Acts, ch 1036, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §208

     
189A.11  Access by inspectors — acceptance by state agencies.
  1.   A person shall not deny access to any authorized inspectors upon the presentation of proper identification at any reasonable time to establishments and to all parts of such premises for the purposes of making inspections under this chapter.
  2.  When meat has been inspected and approved by the department, such inspection will be equal to federal inspection and therefore may be accepted by state agencies and political subdivisions of the state and no other inspection can be required.
  a.   An inspection of products placed in any container at any official establishment shall not be deemed to be complete until the products are sealed or enclosed therein under the supervision of an inspector.
  b.  For purposes of any inspection of products required by this chapter, inspectors authorized by the secretary shall have access at all times by day or night to every part of every establishment required to have inspection under this chapter, whether the establishment is operated or not.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.11]
2013 Acts, ch 30, §40

     
189A.12  Seizure, detention and determination.
  Whenever any livestock or poultry product or any product exempted from the definition of a livestock or poultry product, or any dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock or poultry is found by any authorized representative of the secretary upon any premises where it is held for purposes of, or during or after distribution in, intrastate commerce or is otherwise subject to this chapter, and there is reason to believe that any such article is adulterated or misbranded and is capable of use as human food, or that it has not been inspected in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the federal Meat Inspection Act, the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, or the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or that such article or animal has been or is intended to be distributed in violation of any such provisions, it may be detained by such representative for a period not to exceed twenty days, pending action under this section or notification of any federal authorities having jurisdiction over such article or animal, and shall not be moved by any person from the place at which it is located when so detained until released by such representative. All official marks may be required by such representative to be removed from such article or animal before it is released unless it appears to the satisfaction of the secretary that the article or animal is eligible to retain such marks.
  1.  Any livestock or poultry product, or any dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock or poultry which is being transported in intrastate commerce, or is otherwise subject to this chapter, or is held for sale in this state after such transportation, and which is or has been prepared, sold, transported, or otherwise distributed or offered or received for distribution in violation of this chapter; or is capable of use as human food and is adulterated or misbranded; or is in any other way in violation of this chapter shall be liable to be proceeded against and seized and condemned at any time on a complaint filed in the district court of the particular county within the jurisdiction of which such article or animal is found. If such article or animal is condemned it shall, after entry of the decree, be disposed of by destruction or sale as the court may direct and any proceeds, less the court costs and fees, storage fees, and other proper expenses, shall be paid into the treasury of this state, but the article or animal shall not be sold contrary to the provisions of this chapter, the federal Meat Inspection Act, the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act, or the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; however, upon the execution and delivery of a good and sufficient bond conditioned that the article or animal shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of contrary to the provisions of this chapter or the laws of the United States, the court may direct that such article or animal be delivered to the owner thereof subject to such supervision by authorized representatives of the secretary as is necessary to insure compliance with the applicable laws. When a decree of condemnation is entered against the article or animal and it is released under bond or destroyed, court costs and fees, storage fees, and other proper expenses shall be awarded against any person intervening as claimant of the article or animal. The proceedings in such cases shall be held without a jury, except that either party may demand trial by jury of any issue of fact joined in any case, and all such proceedings shall be at the suit of and in the name of this state.
  2.  The provisions of this section shall in no way derogate from authority for condemnation or seizure conferred by other provisions of this chapter or other applicable laws.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.12]

     
189A.13  Rules.
  The secretary shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the effective administration of this chapter.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.13]

     
189A.14  Injunctive relief.
  1.  Judicial review of the action of the secretary may be sought in accordance with the terms of the Iowa administrative procedure Act, chapter 17A.
  2.  The district court in the county where the violation occurs may enjoin a person from violating this chapter or a regulation promulgated by the secretary pursuant to this chapter. The department may apply to the district court for the injunction. In order to obtain injunctive relief the department shall not be required to post a bond or prove the absence of an adequate remedy at law, unless the court for good cause otherwise orders. The court may order any form of prohibitory or mandatory relief that is appropriate under principles of equity, including but not limited to issuing a temporary or permanent restraining order.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.14]
88 Acts, ch 1036, §2; 2003 Acts, ch 44, §114

     
189A.15  Cooperation with other agencies.
  The secretary is hereby authorized to cooperate with all other agencies, federal and state, in order to carry out the effective administration of this chapter.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.15]

     
189A.16  Forgery or counterfeiting.
  1.  No brand manufacturer, printer, or other person shall cast, print, lithograph, or otherwise make any device containing any official mark or simulation thereof, or any label bearing any such mark or simulation, or any form of official certificate or simulation thereof, except as authorized by the secretary.
  2.  No person shall do any of the following:
  a.  Forge any official device, mark, or certificate.
  b.  Without authorization from the secretary, use any official device, mark, or certificate, or simulation thereof, or alter, detach, deface, or destroy any official device, mark, or certificate.
  c.  Contrary to the regulations prescribed by the secretary, fail to use, or to detach, deface, or destroy any official device, mark, or certificate.
  d.  Knowingly possess, without promptly notifying the secretary or the secretary’s representative, any official device or any counterfeit, simulated, forged, or improperly altered official certificate or any device or label or any carcass of any animal, including poultry, or part or product thereof, bearing any counterfeit, simulated, forged, or improperly altered official mark.
  e.  Knowingly make any false statement in any shipper’s certificate or other nonofficial or official certificate provided for in the regulations prescribed by the secretary.
  f.  Knowingly represent that any article has been inspected and passed, or exempted, under this chapter when it has not been so inspected and passed, or exempted.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.16]

     
189A.17  Penalties.
  1.  Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter for which no other criminal penalty is provided shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor; but if such violation involves intent to defraud, or any distribution or attempted distribution of an article that is adulterated, except as defined in section 189A.2, subsection 1, paragraph “h” such person shall be guilty of a fraudulent practice.
  2.  Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the secretary to report, for the institution of legal proceedings, minor violations of this chapter whenever the secretary believes that the public interest will be adequately served by a suitable written notice of warning.
  3.  The secretary shall also have power:
  a.  To gather and compile information concerning, and to investigate from time to time the organization, business, conduct, practices, and management of any person engaged in intrastate commerce, and the relation thereof to other persons.
  b.  To require persons engaged in intrastate commerce to file with the secretary in such form as the secretary may prescribe, annual or special reports or answers in writing to specific questions, furnishing to the secretary such information as the secretary may require as to the organization, business, conduct, practices, management, and relation to other persons of the person filing such reports or answers. Such reports and answers shall be made under oath, or otherwise as the secretary may prescribe, and shall be filed with the secretary within such reasonable period as the secretary may prescribe, unless additional time be granted in any case by the secretary.
  4.  a.  For the purpose of this chapter the secretary may, at all reasonable times, examine and copy any documentary evidence of any person being investigated or proceeded against, and may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all documentary evidence of any person relating to any matter under investigation. The secretary may sign subpoenas and administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive evidence.
  b.  Such attendance of witnesses, and the production of such documentary evidence may be required at any designated place of hearing. In case of disobedience to a subpoena the secretary may invoke the aid of the district court having jurisdiction over the matter in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence.
  c.  The district court may, in case of failure or refusal to obey a subpoena issued under this section to any person, enter an order requiring such person to appear before the secretary or to produce documentary evidence if so ordered, or to give evidence concerning the matter in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as contempt.
  d.  Upon the application of the attorney general of this state at the request of the secretary, the court shall have jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus commanding any person to comply with the provisions of this chapter or any order of the secretary pursuant thereto.
  e.  The secretary may order testimony to be taken by deposition in any proceeding or investigation pending under this chapter at any stage of such proceeding or investigation. Such depositions may be taken before any person designated by the secretary and having power to administer oaths. Such testimony shall be reduced to writing by the person taking the deposition, or under the person’s direction and shall then be subscribed by the deponent. Any person may be compelled to appear and depose and to produce documentary evidence in the same manner as witnesses may be compelled to appear and testify and produce documentary evidence before the secretary as provided in this section.
  f.  Witnesses summoned before the secretary shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the district court, and witnesses whose depositions are taken and the persons taking the same shall severally be entitled to the same fees as are paid for like services in such district court.
  g.  No person shall be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, papers, schedules of charges, contracts, agreements, or other documentary evidence before the secretary or in obedience to the subpoena of the secretary, whether such subpoena be signed or issued by the secretary or the secretary’s delegate, or in any cause or proceeding, criminal or otherwise, based upon or growing out of any alleged violation of this chapter for the reason that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of the person may tend to incriminate the person or subject the person to a penalty or forfeiture; but no person shall be prosecuted or subjected to a penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which the person is compelled, after having claimed the privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, except that any individual so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying.
  5.  a.  Any person who neglects or refuses to attend and testify or to answer any lawful inquiry, or to produce documentary evidence, if it is in the person’s power to do so, in obedience to the subpoena or lawful requirement of the secretary shall be guilty of a serious misdemeanor.
  b.  Any person who willfully makes, or causes to be made, any false entry or statement of fact in any report required to be made under this chapter, or who willfully makes, or causes to be made, any false entry in any account, record, or memorandum kept by any person subject to this chapter, or who willfully neglects or fails to make or to cause to be made, full, true, and correct entries in such accounts, records, or memoranda, of all facts and transactions pertaining to the business of such person, or who willfully leaves the jurisdiction of this state, or willfully mutilates, alters, or by any other means falsifies any documentary evidence of any person subject to this chapter or who willfully refuses to submit to the secretary or to any of the secretary’s authorized agents, for the purpose of inspection and taking copies, any documentary evidence of any person subject to this chapter in the person’s possession or control, shall be deemed guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.
  c.  If a person required by this chapter to file an annual or special report fails to do so within the time fixed by the secretary for filing it, and the failure continues for thirty days after notice of default, the person shall forfeit to this state the sum of one hundred dollars for each day of the continuance of the failure, which forfeiture is payable into the treasury of this state, and is recoverable in a civil suit in the name of the state brought in the district court of the county where the person has a principal office or in the district court of any county in which the person does business. The county attorneys shall prosecute for the recovery of such forfeitures.
  d.  Any officer or employee of this state who makes public any information obtained by the secretary, without the secretary’s authority, unless directed by a court, or uses any such information to the officer’s or employee’s advantage, shall be deemed guilty of a serious misdemeanor.
  6.  The requirements of this chapter shall apply to persons, establishments, animals, and articles regulated under the federal Meat Inspection Act or the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act to the extent provided for in said federal Acts and also to the extent provided in this chapter and in regulations the secretary may prescribe to promulgate this chapter.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.17]
83 Acts, ch 123, §79, 209; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §209; 2023 Acts, ch 66, §42
Referred to in §331.424, 331.756(31)
Subsection 4, paragraphs c and e amended

     
189A.18  Humane slaughter practices.
  Every establishment subject to the provisions of this chapter engaged in the slaughter of bovine, porcine, caprine, or ovine animals or farm deer shall slaughter all such animals in an approved humane slaughtering method. For purposes of this section, an approved humane slaughtering method shall include and be limited to slaughter by shooting, electrical shock, captive bolt, or use of carbon dioxide gas prior to the animal being shackle hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; however, the slaughtering, handling, or other preparation of livestock in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish or any other faith that prescribes and requires a method whereby slaughter becomes effected by severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument is hereby designated and approved as a humane method of slaughter under the law.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.18]
95 Acts, ch 134, §4; 2017 Acts, ch 159, §30

     
189A.19  Bribery.
  Any person who gives, pays, or offers, directly or indirectly, to any officer or employee of this state authorized to perform any of the duties prescribed by this chapter or by the regulations of the secretary, any money or other thing of value, with intent to influence said officer or employee in the discharge of any such duty, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not less than five thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars and by imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than one year nor more than three years; and any officer or employee of this state authorized to perform any of the duties prescribed by this chapter who accepts any money, gift, or other thing of value from any person, given with intent to influence the officer’s or employee’s official action, or who receives or accepts from any person engaged in intrastate commerce any gift, money, or other thing of value given with any purpose or intent whatsoever, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and shall, upon conviction thereof, be summarily discharged from office and shall be punished by a fine not less than one thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars and by imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than one year nor more than three years.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.19]

     
189A.20  No inspection for products inedible as human food.
  Inspection shall not be provided under this chapter at any establishment for the slaughter of livestock or poultry or the preparation of any livestock products or poultry products which are not intended for use as human food, but such articles shall, prior to their offer for sale or transportation in intrastate commerce, unless naturally inedible by humans, be denatured or otherwise identified as prescribed by regulations of the secretary to deter their use for human food.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.20]

     
189A.21  Appropriation authorized.
  There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.21]

     
189A.22  Federal grants.
  All federal grants to and the federal receipts of this department are hereby appropriated for the purpose set forth in such federal grants or receipts.
[C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §189A.22]