The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall, upon application for permit and receipt of such fee as the commissioner considers necessary from any food packer or processor, inspect all operations of the packer or processor for compliance with this subchapter and shall cause the same law to be diligently enforced. Each such permit covers one group of buildings constituting a packing plant in one location. [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §125 (COR).]

Only the holder of such a permit may mark or label any food so inspected as packed or processed or inspected and passed under this subchapter.

The commissioner may, in a manner consistent with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act as to adjudicatory proceedings, refuse to renew, and the District Court, in a manner consistent with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, may revoke a permit whenever there is a lack of compliance with this subchapter. The commissioner shall establish such rules as the commissioner considers necessary. The commissioner shall make such charges as are reasonable and, as nearly as possible, cover the cost of the service rendered. All charges and all money thus collected for services rendered by the commissioner must be paid by the commissioner to the Treasurer of State. The charges and money are appropriated for the purposes of this section. [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §125 (COR).]

The commissioner may employ such agents and assistants, subject to the Civil Service Law, and make such purchases as may be necessary in the performance of the commissioner’s duties. [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §125 (COR).]