44-6-112 - Withdrawal, condemnation and confiscation orders.

44-6-112. Withdrawal, condemnation and confiscation orders.

(a)  When the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized agent has reasonable cause to believe any lot of commercial feed is being distributed in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of any of the prescribed regulations under this chapter, the commissioner or the commissioner's agent may issue and enforce a written or printed “withdrawal from distribution” order, warning the distributor not to dispose of the lot of commercial feed in any manner until written permission is given by the commissioner or the court. The commissioner shall release the lot of commercial feed so withdrawn when the provisions and regulations have been complied with. If compliance is not obtained within thirty (30) days, the commissioner may begin, or upon request of the distributor or registrant shall begin, proceedings for condemnation.

(b)  Any lot of commercial feed not in compliance with any of the provisions of this chapter or of any of the prescribed regulations under this chapter shall be subject to seizure on complaint of the commissioner to a court of competent jurisdiction in the area in which the commercial feed is located. In the event the court finds the commercial feed to be in violation of this chapter and orders the condemnation of the commercial feed, it shall be disposed of in any manner consistent with the quality of the commercial feed and the laws of the state; provided, that in no instance shall the disposition of the commercial feed be ordered by the court without first giving the claimant an opportunity to apply to the court for release of the commercial feed or for permission to process or relabel the commercial feed to bring it into compliance with this chapter.

[Acts 1972, ch. 488, § 12; T.C.A., § 44-1129.]