2023 Tennessee Code › Title 53 - FOOD, DRUGS AND COSMETICS (§§ 53-1-101 — 53-15-103) › Chapter 7 - MEAT INSPECTION AND REGULATIONS (§§ 53-7-101 — 53-7-307) › Part 2 - TENNESSEE MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION ACT (§§ 53-7-201 — 53-7-221) › Section 53-7-213 - [See Note] Commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations (§ 53-7-213) › 2

(a)
The commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations that in the commissioner's judgment will implement and help effectuate the purposes of this part.
(b)
(1)
The commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules to establish standards for poultry and poultry products, and to prescribe labeling and advertising standards and requirements for poultry and poultry products.
(2)
The commissioner shall promulgate rules and appoint qualified personnel as are necessary to establish a state meat inspection program within the department of agriculture to perform inspections required by this part. The rules must establish standards for meat and meat food products, and prescribe labeling and advertising standards and requirements for meat and meat food products. The commissioner shall consult with the department of health and representatives of the meat industry in this state when promulgating rules required by this subdivision (b)(2).
(3)
Subdivisions (b)(1) and (2) do not limit the commissioner's authority to prescribe other rules pursuant to this part.
(c)
The rules and regulations shall be promulgated pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
(d)
(1)
Except as required by subdivision (d)(2), in promulgating rules pursuant to this part, the commissioner may consider rules and regulations that have been promulgated pursuant to the federal Meat Inspection Act (
21 U.S.C. § 601
et seq.) or the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act (
21 U.S.C. § 451
et seq.).
(2)
The rules promulgated pursuant to subdivision (b)(2) must conform with the federal Meat Inspection Act (
21 U.S.C. § 601
et seq.) and incorporate the regulations compiled at 9 CFR, Chapter III, Subchapters A and E.
(e)
The commissioner shall hire:
(1)
One (1) state meat inspection program administrator who shall be responsible for:
(A)
Compiling documents to demonstrate adoption of, and statutory authority and food safety regulations to run, a meat inspection program; policies to implement inspection activities, sampling programs, humane handling, and compliance programs; civil rights accountability; and a proposed budget;
(B)
Submitting the documents listed in subdivision (e)(1)(A), along with any other required documents, to the federal food safety and inspection service (FSIS) of the United States department of agriculture, for the purpose of entering into a cooperative agreement with FSIS for a state meat inspection program; and
(C)
Performing other duties concerning the administration of a state meat inspection program, as determined by the commissioner;
(2)
One (1) administrative assistant to assist the program administrator in carrying out the program administrator's duties; and
(3)
Sufficient staff to inspect:
(A)
Livestock that are subject to inspection under this part;
(B)
Livestock carcasses, parts of livestock carcasses, and meat food products; and
(C)
Sanitary conditions of official establishments in which meat and meat food products are prepared.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 380, s 2, eff. thirty days following receipt from the federal food safety and inspection service (FSIS) of the United States department of agriculture that Tennessee has met the requirements under the federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) to enter into a cooperative agreement with FSIS for a state meat inspection program.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 380, s 1, eff. thirty days following receipt from the federal food safety and inspection service (FSIS) of the United States department of agriculture that Tennessee has met the requirements under the federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) to enter into a cooperative agreement with FSIS for a state meat inspection program.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 380, s 1, eff. thirty days following receipt from the federal food safety and inspection service (FSIS) of the United States department of agriculture that Tennessee has met the requirements under the federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) to enter into a cooperative agreement with FSIS for a state meat inspection program.
Acts 1967, ch. 99, § 13; modified; T.C.A., § 52-927; Acts 1992, ch. 862, § 1; 2007 , ch. 421, § 16.
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.