reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12A - Meat (§§ 241 — 241i) › § 241b - Labeling; facilities; equipment

The marketing or labeling as Puerto Rican meat, of meat not produced in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or of meat introduced into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from the United States of America or from any foreign country, is hereby prohibited.
Accordingly, no meat introduced into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be sold or otherwise marketed or advertised unless the place where the product originated or comes from appears prominently and is clearly and easily legible on such meat and/or on the container thereof, as well as in the advertisements offering the same for sale; Provided, That the Secretary may establish by regulations the labeling requirements for the observance of this provision.
The Secretary may also establish by regulations any or all of the following measures to prevent confusion as to origin, quality or condition of the meat marketed in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico:
(a) To establish the conditions under which meat produced in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and meat introduced from the United States and from foreign countries shall be marketed in the same premises or establishment.
(b) To require that necessary facilities, such as space, equipment, warehousing, display for sale, and others, be provided in order that meats of different origins be kept separated at all times during the marketing thereof.
(c) To require that the meat itself and the container, package or wrapper thereof, be adequately labeled, indicating besides the origin, the kind, sex and growth stage of the animal from which the meat comes from, the cut, grade of quality, name and address of the person or firm introducing the meat into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or of the packer or distributor of the meat produced in Puerto Rico, whether the product is fresh (not frozen) or frozen, net weight of the product, and any other information deemed necessary for proper compliance with this chapter. In the case of retailers, the only labeling to be required shall be the place from which the meat originates or comes from, the name of the cut, its grade of quality, and the net weight in the case of prepacked meat.
History —June 30, 1965, No. 120, p. 333, § 3, eff. 90 days after June 30, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12A - Meat (§§ 241 — 241i) › § 241c - Mislabeling

The use of any design, symbol, word or group of letters or words, or of any type of advertisement or labeling which may cause, or may induce or lend itself to cause, confusion as to the true origin, quality or condition of meat marketed in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is hereby prohibited. The Secretary is empowered to adopted regulations to carry out this provision.
History —June 30, 1965, No. 120, p. 333, § 4, eff. 90 days after June 30, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12A - Meat (§§ 241 — 241i) › § 241d - Powers of Secretary

The Secretary is also empowered to:
(a) Establish the necessary regulations and procedures governing markets and for the orderly, adequate, truthful and fair marketing of meat.
(b) Require by regulations that meat marketed in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico must meet determined requirements of quality, condition and wholesomeness, and establish likewise the maximum time to be allowed for meat introduced from the United States or from any foreign country, from the time of slaughtering until the arrival of the meat in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(c) Establish by regulations the temperature at which meat introduced to be marketed in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be transported, as well as the temperature at which meat shall be marketed in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(d) Inspect meat introduced or marketed in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as markets, to verify compliance with law and with the regulations established thereunder.
(e) Appoint inspectors and vest them with such powers, and impose on them such duties as may be necessary for the enforcement of this chapter.
(f) Carry out the necessary tests and studies in order to adopt the best standards and practices to attain the objectives of this chapter.
(g) Fix and require payments for noncompulsory meat inspection services furnished by the Department of Agriculture, when in his judgment such services should be paid for under the regulations that may be promulgated for the purpose, as hereby authorized.
(h) Require the licensing of all natural or [juridical] persons engaged in the introduction and/or marketing of meat.
(i) Deny licenses when the applicant fails to meet the requirements established by this chapter and by the regulations authorized hereunder.
(j) Cancel or suspend licenses for the time deemed necessary, whenever he may determine, after an administrative hearing, that a person has failed to comply with the regulations established hereunder.
(k) Enter into cooperative or any other agreements and contracts with persons, agencies or instrumentalities of the federal, state or municipal government, whenever he deems it necessary or useful to better accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
(l) Do all necessary acts to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
History —June 30, 1965, No. 120, p. 333, § 5, eff. 90 days after June 30, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12A - Meat (§§ 241 — 241i) › § 241e - Foreign meat; slaughterhouses; temperature; wholesomeness

All meat introduced from the United States and from foreign countries for its marketing in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall come from slaughterhouses approved as official establishments and subject to inspection by the Department of Agriculture of the United States.
The Secretary is hereby empowered to establish by regulations, the conditions relating to temperature and wholesomeness under which meat shall be kept, from the time of leaving such slaughterhouses until arrival in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for marketing.
History —June 30, 1965, No. 120, p. 333, § 6, eff. 90 days after June 30, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12A - Meat (§§ 241 — 241i) › § 241f - Hearings before regulation

The Secretary shall hold public hearings before promulgating regulations under the provisions of this chapter, or before adopting any amendment to existing regulations hereunder.
History —June 30, 1965, No. 120, p. 333, § 7, eff. 30 days after June 30, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12A - Meat (§§ 241 — 241i) › § 241g - Hearings on cancellation of licenses

The Secretary shall hold administrative hearings giving the person affected the opportunity to be heard, before suspending or cancelling the license authorizing such person to engage in the introduction and/or marketing of meat, and shall notify the person concerned of his determination in any respect.
History —June 30, 1965, No. 120, p. 333, § 8, eff. 90 days after June 30, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12A - Meat (§§ 241 — 241i) › § 241i - Penalties

Any natural or [juridical] person who shall fail to comply with the provisions of this chapter or with the whole or any part of any regulation established hereunder by the Secretary, or who shall engage in the introduction and/or marketing of meat without the corresponding license, when required, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200) for the first offense, and in case of recidivism, by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500); Provided, That any lot of meat, container and/or material for the packing or labeling of same, not in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Secretary, and which may have been the object of a detention order, may be seized, in case the owner or dealer thereof shall neglect to act as set forth in § 241h of this title, in which case, such meat, containers and/or materials for the packing or labeling thereof as are fit for use in Commonwealth institutions shall be sent thereto, whenever possible and convenient, and those not sent to said institutions shall be sold at public auction, or shall be destroyed, or used for purposes other than for human use or consumption.
The Secretary is hereby empowered to impose administrative fines up to an amount of twenty-five dollars ($25) for the first offense and up to fifty dollars ($50) for any subsequent offense when it is found that the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations promulgated hereunder have not been complied with; Provided, That in cases of violations to § 241h of this title the administrative fine that the Secretary may impose shall be up to fifty dollars ($50) for the first offense and up to one hundred dollars ($100) for subsequent offenses.
History —June 30, 1965, No. 120, p. 333, § 10, eff. 90 days after June 30, 1965.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12B - Eggs (§§ 242 — 242f) › § 242 - Labeling required

Each hen’s egg in its shell marketed in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be directly marked on its shell with simple and clearly legible letters of a type not less than [fourteen] (14) point, with the words “Del País” or with the commercial name in use by the producer, if produced in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; with the letters “U.S.” if produced in the United States of America, including its territories and possessions under its sovereignty; and with the word “Imported” if produced in a foreign country.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable to eggs produced in Puerto Rico and packed in one-dozen containers, or eggs produced in Puerto Rico and supplied in containers of any type, capacity or size to private institutions such as hotels, restaurants and hospitals, and to government, commonwealth, municipal or federal institutions; nor to eggs produced at home, when directly sold to the consumer. The expression “produced at home” shall mean not produced on farms.
History —June 29, 1964, No. 118, p. 377, § 1, eff. 90 days after June 29, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12B - Eggs (§§ 242 — 242f) › § 242a - Stamping

The labeling above required shall be stamped directly on the broad end of the egg with indelible ink, harmless to human health.
History —June 29, 1964, No. 118, p. 377, § 2, eff. 90 days after June 29, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12B - Eggs (§§ 242 — 242f) › § 242b - Alteration

It is hereby prohibited to alter or in any way change the labeling required in this chapter.
History —June 29, 1964, No. 118, p. 377, § 3, eff. 90 days after June 29, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12B - Eggs (§§ 242 — 242f) › § 242c - Marketing; reshipment

Every hen’s egg in its shell not produced in Puerto Rico which lacks the labeling required in this chapter shall not be permitted to be marketed in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and shall be reshipped under the supervision of the Secretary of Agriculture within a term of not more than 30 days.
History —June 29, 1964, No. 118, p. 377, § 4, eff. 90 days after June 29, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12B - Eggs (§§ 242 — 242f) › § 242d - Enforcement

When any inspector of the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico shall find any lot or part of a lot of hen’s eggs in their shell in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he shall issue and sign against the entire lot a written detention order, copy of which shall be delivered to the owner and/or person in possession or custody of the lot, who shall be in duty bound to keep said lot out of use or consumption and out of man’s trade, at the place of detention, if adequate, or at such place as the Secretary of Agriculture or his authorized representative may designate in writing, until the lot, if not of eggs produced in Puerto Rico, is duly labeled within a term of forty-eight (48) hours after having issued the detention order or until said lot is reshipped within a term of not more than thirty (30) days after having issued said detention order, at the option of the importer or owner and at the expense of the latter. If not reshipped within said term, said lot may be seized by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to be used in municipal or commonwealth hospitals if the eggs are fit for human consumption, or to be destroyed if otherwise.
The Commonwealth shall not be liable for any deterioration or damage sustained by any lot of hen’s eggs in their shell the object of a detention order issued in accordance with this chapter.
The owner of the lot so detained and/or the person in possession or custody of the lot may contest the detention order within the fifteen (15) days following the date on which copy of same was received by him, through complaint to be filed in the corresponding part of the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico against the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, without bond, which complaint shall be notified to the Secretary of Justice, who shall answer same within the term specified for any ordinary action. The hearing shall be held without subjection to docket and against the judgment rendered no remedy shall lie other than a petition for review before the Supreme Court, limited to issues of law.
History —June 29, 1964, No. 118, p. 377, § 5; May 28, 1970, No. 45, p. 110.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12B - Eggs (§§ 242 — 242f) › § 242e - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, “to market” or “marketing” shall mean the purchase-sale, offering or exhibition for sale, possession, storage, assignment, transportation, processing, or any form of handling hen’s eggs in their shell.
History —June 29, 1964, No. 118, p. 377, § 6, eff. 90 days after June 29, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12B - Eggs (§§ 242 — 242f) › § 242f - Penalties

Any natural or [juridical] person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than two hundred and fifty ($250) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the first offense, or of not less than five hundred ($500) nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) in cases of recidivism.
History —June 29, 1964, No. 118, p. 377, § 7, eff. 90 days after June 29, 1964.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12D - Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (§§ 244 — 244g) › § 244 - Public policy

It shall be the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to promote the improvement of the nutritional and health status of all citizens by prohibiting the use of hydrogenated vegetable oil in the food prepared and sold for human consumption.
History —Sept. 13, 2007, No. 120, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12D - Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (§§ 244 — 244g) › § 244a - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning stated below:
(a) Food containing hydrogenated vegetable oil. — Is the food labeled, because of their content of hydrogenated vegetable oil. It does not include food whose content of hydrogenated vegetable oil is lower than 0.5 grams per serving, according to the label of the manufacturer.
(b) Establishments engaged in the sale of food. — Includes restaurants, cafeterias, fast-food restaurants, mobile food units or any other business devoted to the selling of food for consumption.
(c) Fast food establishments. — Those establishments that sell, serve, and instantly dispense prepared food and have a limited menu.
(d) Traditional Puerto Rican cuisine businesses. — Any establishment, whether or not it is open to the public, nonprofit or for profit, in which traditional or autochthonous Puerto Rican food is served or sold.
History —Sept. 13, 2007, No. 120, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12D - Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (§§ 244 — 244g) › § 244b - Prohibition

No food containing hydrogenated fats shall be stored, distributed, held for service, used to prepare any product from a menu or served in establishments engaged on the sale of food or mobile food units, except for the food directed to patrons in the original sealed package of the manufacturer.
History —Sept. 13, 2007, No. 120, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12D - Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (§§ 244 — 244g) › § 244c - Obligation of school lunchrooms

School lunchrooms of the Department of Education, day care centers, and homes for the elderly must eliminate any hydrogenated vegetable oil from the food prepared and served in their menus after the approval of this act.
History —Sept. 13, 2007, No. 120, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12D - Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (§§ 244 — 244g) › § 244d - Required labeling

The establishments engaged in sale of food or mobile food units shall have available the original labeling of all food products:
(a) Containing fat, oil or semi-solid fat.
(b) That, when purchased by the establishments engage to the sale of food or mobile food units, are required to be labeled by federal and Commonwealth laws.
(c) That are being stored, distributed, held for service, used in the preparation of any product from a menu, or served in establishments engaged in the sale of food or mobile food units.
History —Sept. 13, 2007, No. 120, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12D - Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (§§ 244 — 244g) › § 244e - Regulations

The Department of Consumer Affairs is hereby empowered to adopt the necessary regulations to enforce the terms of this chapter, and to such purposes, it shall approve regulations within one hundred and twenty (120) days [following] the approval of this act. However, the food industry is hereby granted a term of six (6) months, [following] the approval of the regulations, to eliminate the use of trans fats from the preparation of food.
History —Sept. 13, 2007, No. 120, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12D - Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (§§ 244 — 244g) › § 244f - Applicability; exemption

Traditional and artisan cuisine business, other than those that are part of a business chain, whose higher sales volume does not exceed [five hundred] thousand dollars ($500,000) annually and that are located in the coastal zones of the Island and in other places with a high concentration of local and international tourist visits, are hereby exempted from the application of this chapter. However, these shall be obliged to place a notice stating the use of trans fats in the preparation of food.
History —Sept. 13, 2007, No. 120, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 12D - Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (§§ 244 — 244g) › § 244g - Penalties

In the case of violations of the terms of this chapter and its regulations, the Secretary of Consumer Affairs shall impose administrative fines to violators, in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500) for the first violation. In the case of subsequent violations, he/she may impose fines up to the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the second violation and up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) for subsequent violations. The administrative fines shall be paid by certified check or money order to the Secretary of the Treasury; [fifty percent] (50%) of the revenues, on account of said fines, shall be directed to the Puerto Rico Food and Nutrition Commission and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for the Promotion of Health of the Department of Health, for the purpose of developing educational campaigns geared toward encouraging healthy eating habits and promoting health in the population.
History —Sept. 13, 2007, No. 120, § 9, eff. 10 months after Sept. 13, 2007.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 257 - Definitions

The terms “person” and “persons” are used in this chapter, except as otherwise provided, to include, in addition to natural persons, and without it being understood as a limitation, corporations, companies, partnerships, associations, trusts, or any other organizations or entities, as well as two or more persons, as herein the term is defined, joined in interest; but shall not include public corporations or state instrumentalities.
—June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 1.
History
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 258 - Transactions in restraint of trade

Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy in unreasonable restraint of trade or commerce in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or in any section thereof, is hereby declared to be illegal and every person who shall make any contract or engage in any combination or conspiracy hereby declared to be illegal shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 2; June 8, 1973, No. 131, p. 525, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 260 - Monopolies

Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or in any section thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 4; June 8, 1973, No. 131, p. 525, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 262 - Exclusive dealing

It shall be unlawful for any person to lease, or make a sale or contract for lease or sale, directly or indirectly, of real estate, or lease or make a sale or contract for lease or sale of goods, wares, merchandise, machinery, supplies or other commodities, whether patented or unpatented, for use, consumption or resale in Puerto Rico, or fix a price charged therefor, or discount from, or rebate upon, such price, on the condition, agreement or understanding that the lessee or purchaser thereof shall not use or deal in the goods, wares, merchandise, machinery, supplies or other commodities of a competitor or competitors of the lessor or seller, where in any line of commerce, in any section of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the effect of such lease, sale, or contract for lease or sale, or such condition, agreement or understanding may be to substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 264 - Sales in Puerto Rico at prices different from those at which the articles are sold elsewhere

It shall be unlawful to sell, contract to sell, offer to sell, or participate in any step for the sale of articles in Puerto Rico, after making due allowance for differences in costs incident to the delivering of goods in Puerto Rico and the costs of handling such goods in Puerto Rico, at prices which are substantially different from the prices charged or quoted by such sellers for goods of the same grade or quality to buyers located outside of Puerto Rico, when such difference in price is granted with the purpose of destroying competition or eliminating a competitor located in Puerto Rico.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 265 - Liability of corporate officers

Whenever a corporation or legal entity violates any provision of this chapter, the individual directors, officers, trustees, managers, or agents of said corporation or legal entity who shall have authorized, ordered or committed the acts constituting such violation, shall also be subject, personally, to the penalties specified by this chapter for such violation, but in such case, although the imprisonment penalty indicated shall be applicable, the fine shall not be less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 9; June 8, 1973, No. 131, p. 525, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 266 - Penalties

Any person who violates §§ 258, 260, 263(f) or 264 of this title shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) nor more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year, or by both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
Persons accused of violating the sections previously mentioned shall be entitled to a jury trial.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 10; June 8, 1973, No. 131, p. 525, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 267 - Statute of limitations

No criminal proceeding under this chapter may be brought more than four (4) years after the commission of the last act constituting in whole or in part the violation charged.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 268 - Actions by persons suffering damages

(a) Any person who shall be injured in his business or property by any other person, by reason of acts or intended acts, forbidden or declared to be unlawful by the provisions of this chapter, except §§ 259 and 261 of this title, may sue therefor in the Court of First Instance and shall recover threefold the damages by him sustained, plus costs, including a reasonable amount for attorney’s fees.
(b) Whenever the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its agencies or instrumentalities or any municipality shall suffer damages caused by any person by reason of acts or intended acts forbidden or declared unlawful by the provisions of this chapter, it may sue therefor for the recovery of damages in the same manner and with the same consequences as in the case of a private entity, but shall have no right to recover threefold the damages suffered, but instead the amount of such damages. Neither shall attorney’s fees be recovered, except in the case where the plaintiff shall be a municipality or an instrumentality.
(c) The judicial action to recover damages in accordance with the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be commenced within four (4) years after the cause of action accrued.
The filing of any civil or criminal action on the part of the state, except an action under subsection (b) of this section, shall suspend the running of the statute of limitations herein established during the pendency of said action, and for one additional year, with respect to any cause of action based in whole or in part on matters involved in the action by the state. No action may be brought outside the term of suspension or the term of four years after the cause of action accrued.
(d) A final and executory judgment rendered in any civil or criminal proceeding brought on behalf and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, to the effect that the defendant or accused has violated the provisions thereof, shall constitute prima facie evidence against such defendant or accused in any action brought in accordance with subsections (a) or (b) of this section. The effect of prima facie evidence of said judgment shall include all those matters with respect to which said judgment would be an estoppel between the parties thereby affected.
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply in the case of consent judgments or in any way rendered without reception of evidence, or in the case of judgments rendered in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
—June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 12.
History
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 269 - Jurisdiction and enforcement provisions

The Court of First Instance is hereby vested with jurisdiction to prevent, prohibit, enjoin and punish violations of this chapter, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of Justice to institute proceedings for injunctions or any other proceeding to prevent, prohibit, enjoin and punish such violations, and to obtain such other or further relief as may be appropriate. When a party complained of shall have been duly notified that an action has been filed against him, the court shall proceed, as soon as possible, to the hearing and determination of the case; and pending such proceedings and before final decree, the court may make such temporary restraining orders or prohibition as shall be deemed just in the premises.
The Court of First Instance shall have exclusive jurisdiction to entertain criminal proceedings for violation of this chapter. Disobedience of an order of the court to enforce the provisions of this chapter is punishable as contempt and the person found guilty of said violation may be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or by imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year, or by both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 269a - Prohibited acts, injunctions

Every person shall have the right to institute proceedings for injunctions before the Court of First Instance to prevent losses or damages to his business or property by any other person, by reason of acts or intended acts, forbidden or declared to be unlawful by this chapter.
Sections 259 and 261 and subsection (f) of § 263 of this title are hereby excluded from the provisions of this section.
This order for “injunction” shall be issued in accordance with Rule 57 of the Rules of Civil Procedure of 1958, which governs these procedures.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, added as § 13A on Apr. 20, 1970, No. 11, p. 27.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 269b - Additional jurisdiction

In addition to the provisions on summons prescribed by the Rules on Civil Procedure for the General Court of Justice, jurisdiction on a defendant shall be acquired, whether he is a natural or [juridical] person, if directly or indirectly he breaks this law and, in addition, draws substantial income from used or consumed goods or services rendered in Puerto Rico and/or receives substantial income within the scope of the economy of Puerto Rico or from any impact or effect in a specific local market.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, added as § 13B on June 8, 1973, No. 131, p. 525, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 270 - Other parties to be summoned

Whenever the ends of justice require that other parties should be brought before the court before which any proceeding under this chapter may be pending, said court may cause said parties to be summoned.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 273 - Requirements for compliance with the act

At the request of the Secretary of Justice, the Court of First Instance shall have authority to order any person, following the procedure prescribed for the issuance of the writ of mandamus, to comply with any act required by any regulation of the Office of Monopolistic Affairs or with any order issued in accordance with the provisions of said regulations or the provisions of this chapter.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 17.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 274 - Voluntary retailers’ chains

The establishment of voluntary chains of retailers of goods and services to institute common programs, including negotiations, purchases and advertising on pricing, carried out by small merchants engaged in retail sales and providers of services who each own up to five (5) business establishments, to join together and confront the competition in good faith of establishments with substantially larger volumes of sales, shall not be deemed as a violation of this chapter, provided that no voluntary chain or common program should tend to create a monopoly or has the effect of substantially restricting business, trade or competition, or constitutes an unfair method of competition, as well as an unfair or deceitful business or commercial practice or act.
Every voluntary chain or common person shall be recognized by the Commercial Development Administration, which shall certify that it complies with the requirements of this section, upon prior request to such effects, provided that its existence does not tend to create a monopoly, substantially restricting business, trade, or competition or constitutes an unfair method of competition, as well as an unfair or deceitful business or commercial practice or act.
History —June 25, 1964, No. 77, p. 235, § 18; Aug. 15, 1999, No. 256, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 274a - Certifications

The Commercial Development Administrator is hereby empowered to issue certifications, at least every two (2) years, recognizing the bona fide status of voluntary chains and common programs of retailers who qualify for the purposes of § 274 of this title. The Commercial Development Administrator may charge fees for said certifications and the moneys collected on account thereof shall be set aside for the bolstering of its program addressed to the organization of these voluntary groups and common programs, and the [issuance] of certifications as bona fide groups.
History —Aug. 15, 1999, No. 256, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 274b - Certifications—Establishment of parameters

The Commercial Development Administrator is hereby empowered to promulgate regulations within a term of ninety (90) days, to establish the parameters, definitions, classifications, procedures, and fees to be charged for the certification of voluntary chains and programs in common that qualify for this exception and that are deemed pertinent for compliance of this chapter, with the coordination of the Office of Monopolistic Affairs of the Department of Justice and the establishment of an active supervision of the public policy provided in this chapter.
History —Aug. 15, 1999, No. 256, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 275 - Per diems

The citizens appointed by the Governor as members of the Special Board created by § 259 of this title, shall receive twenty-five dollars ($25) as per diem for each day they attend the meetings of the Special Board. Payments by reason of said per diems shall in the aggregate never exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) a year per person.
History —May 6, 1966, No. 6, p. 122, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 13 - Monopolies and Restraint of Trade (§§ 251 — 276) › § 276 - Allegation of nolo contendere

Any person accused by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico of prohibited acts or of attempt to commit prohibited acts under §§ 258, 260, 263(f) and 264 of this title, may present allegations of nolo contendere in the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico. Said allegation shall not be used as prima facie evidence in actions of triple damages based on subsections (a) and (b) of § 268 of this title. These actions shall be governed in all its other aspects by the Rules of Criminal Procedure.
History —May 31, 1972, No. 61, p. 136.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 14 - Dealers’ Contracts (§§ 278 — 278e) › § 278 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings expressed below, save when the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) Dealer. — Person actually interested in a dealer’s contract because of his having effectively in his charge in Puerto Rico the distribution, agency, concession or representation of a given merchandise or service.
(b) Dealer’s contract. — Relationship established between a dealer and a principal or grantor whereby and irrespectively of the manner in which the parties may call, characterize or execute such relationship, the former actually and effectively takes charge of the distribution of a merchandise, or of the rendering of a service, by concession or franchise, on the market of Puerto Rico.
(c) Principal or grantor. — Person who executes a dealer’s contract with a dealer.
(d) Just cause. — Nonperformance of any of the essential obligations of the dealer’s contract, on the part of the dealer, or any action or omission on his part that adversely and substantially affects the interests of the principal or grantor in promoting the marketing or distribution of the merchandise or service.
—June 24, 1964, No. 75, p. 231, § 1; June 23, 1966, No. 105, p. 331, § 2.
History
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 14 - Dealers’ Contracts (§§ 278 — 278e) › § 278a - Termination of relationship

Notwithstanding the existence in a dealer’s contract of a clause reserving to the parties the unilateral right to terminate the existing relationship, no principal or grantor may directly or indirectly perform any act detrimental to the established relationship or refuse to renew said contract on its normal expiration, except for just cause.
—June 24, 1964, No. 75, p. 231, § 2; June 23, 1966, No. 105, p. 331, § 2.
History
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 14 - Dealers’ Contracts (§§ 278 — 278e) › § 278a-1 - Termination of relationship—Just cause for termination; exceptions; presumptions

For the purposes of this chapter and specifically for the effects of § 278a of this title:
(a) The violation or nonperformance by a dealer of any provision included in the dealer’s contract to prevent or restrict changes in the capital structure of the dealer’s business, or changes in the managerial control of said business, or the manner or form of financing the operation, or to prevent or restrict the free sale, transfer or encumbrance of any corporate action, participation, right or interest that any person could have in said distribution business, shall not be considered as being just cause unless the principal or grantor shows that such nonperformance may affect, or has truly and effectively affected the interests of such principal or grantor in an adverse or substantial manner in the development of the market, distribution of the merchandise or rendering of services.
(b) It shall be presumed, but for evidence to the contrary, that a principal or grantor has impaired the existing relationship in any of the following cases:
(1) When the principal or grantor establishes facilities in Puerto Rico for the direct distribution of merchandise or the rendering of services which were previously in the charge of the dealer;
(2) when the principal or grantor establishes a distribution relationship with one or more additional dealers for the area of Puerto Rico or any part of said area in conflict with the contract existing between the parties;
(3) when the principal or grantor unjustifiably refuses or fails to fill the order for merchandise sent to him by the dealer in reasonable amounts and within a reasonable time;
(4) when the principal or grantor unilaterally and in an unreasonable manner varies the shipping methods or the manner, conditions or terms of payment for the merchandise ordered, to the prejudice of the dealer.
(c) The violation or nonperformance by the dealer of any provision included in the dealer’s contract fixing rules of conduct or distribution quotas or goals because it does not adjust to the realities of the Puerto Rican market at the time of the violation or nonperformance by the dealer shall not be deemed just cause. The burden of proof to show the reasonableness of the rule of conduct or of the quota or goal fixed shall rest on the principal or grantor.
History —June 24, 1964, No. 75, p. 231, added as § 2A on July 13, 1988, No. 81, p. 339, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 14 - Dealers’ Contracts (§§ 278 — 278e) › § 278a-2 - Termination of relationship—Privatization of programs

To the effects of this chapter, and particularly to the effects of § 278a thereof:
(a) It shall be understood that the action of privatizing a program, service or enterprise of the central government or a public corporation, embodies just cause to end the relationship existing between said program, service or business belonging to the central government or a public corporation or its successors, with any distributor that renders services to it. Since it embodies just cause, such action will not enable the distributor to receive any compensation at all.
(b) This definition does not exclude from the concept of just cause, any other eventuality that may be judged as such by a court of justice.
History —June 24, 1964, No. 75, p. 231, added as § 2B on Aug. 12, 1994, No. 68, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 14 - Dealers’ Contracts (§§ 278 — 278e) › § 278b - Termination of relationship—Damages

If no just cause exists for the termination of the dealer’s contract for detriment to the established relationship, or for the refusal to renew same, the principal shall have executed a tortious act against the dealer and shall indemnify it to the extent of the damages caused him, the amount of such indemnity to be fixed on the basis of the following factors:
(a) The actual value of the amount expended by the dealer in the acquisition and fitting of premises, equipment, installations, furniture and utensils, to the extent that these are not easily and reasonably useful to any other activity in which the dealer is normally engaged.
(b) The cost of the goods, parts, pieces, accessories and utensils that the dealer may have in stock, and from whose sale or exploitation he is unable to benefit.
(c) The good will of the business, or such part thereof attributable to the distribution of the merchandise or to the rendering of the pertinent services, said good will to be determined by taking into consideration the following factors:
(1) Number of years the dealer has had charge of the distribution;
(2) actual volume of the distribution of the merchandise or the rendering of the pertinent services and the proportion it represents in the dealer’s business;
(3) proportion of the Puerto Rican market said volume represents;
(4) any other factor that may help establish equitably the amount of said good will.
(d) The amount of the profit obtained in the distribution of the merchandise or in the rendering of the services, as the case may be, during the last five (5) years, or if less than five (5), five (5) times the average of the annual profit obtained during the last years, whatever they may be.
—June 24, 1964, No. 75, p. 231, § 3; June 28, 1965, No. 104, p. 276; June 23, 1966, No. 105, p. 331, § 2.
History
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TEN - Commerce (§§ 1 — 4196) › Subtitle 1 - Regulation of Business Generally (§§ 1 — 998q) › Chapter 14 - Dealers’ Contracts (§§ 278 — 278e) › § 278b-1 - Provisional remedy

In any litigation in which there is directly or indirectly involved the termination of a dealer’s contract or any act in prejudice of the relation established between the principal or grantor and the dealer, the court may grant, during the time the litigation is pending solution, any provisional remedy or measure of an interdictory nature to do or to desist from doing, ordering any of the parties, or both, to continue, in all its terms, the relation established by the dealer’s contract, and/or to abstain from performing any act or any omission in prejudice thereof. In any case in which the provisional remedy herein provided is requested, the court shall consider the interests of all parties concerned and the purposes of the public policy contained in this chapter.
History —June 24, 1964, No. 75, p. 231, added as § 3-A on May 24, 1971, No. 17, p. 31.