New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:20 – Authority to Embargo and Condemn
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I. Whenever a duly authorized agent of the department of health and human services finds or has probable cause to believe that any food, drug, device or cosmetic is adulterated, or so misbranded as to be dangerous or fraudulent, within the meaning of this chapter, he shall affix to such article a tag or other appropriate marking, giving notice that such article is, or is suspected of being, adulterated or misbranded and has been detained or embargoed, and warning all persons not to remove or dispose of such article by sale or otherwise until permission for removal or disposal is given by such agent or the court. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or dispose of such detained or embargoed article by sale or otherwise without such permission.
II. When an article detained or embargoed under paragraph I has been found by such agent to be adulterated, or misbranded, he shall petition the courts in whose jurisdiction the article is detained or embargoed for a libel for condemnation of such article. When such agent has found that an article so detained or embargoed is not adulterated or misbranded, he shall remove the tag or other marking.
III. If the court finds that a detained or embargoed article is adulterated or misbranded, such article shall, after entry of the decree, be destroyed at the expense of the claimant thereof, under the supervision of such agent, and all court costs and fees, and storage and other proper expenses, shall be taxed against the claimant of such article or his agent: provided, that when the adulteration or misbranding can be corrected by proper labeling, or processing of the article, the court, after entry of the decree and after such costs, fees, and expenses have been paid and a good and sufficient bond, conditioned that such article shall be so labeled or processed, has been executed, may by order direct that such article be delivered to the claimant thereof for such labeling or processing under the supervision of an agent of the department of health and human services. The expense of such supervision shall be paid by the claimant. Such bond shall be returned to the claimant of the article on representation to the court by the commissioner that the article is no longer in violation of this chapter, and that the expenses of such supervision have been paid.
IV. Whenever the department of health and human services or any of its authorized agents shall find in any vehicle, room, building, or other structure, any meat, seafood, poultry, vegetable, fruit or other perishable articles which are unsound, or contain any filthy, decomposed, or putrid substance, or that may be poisonous or deleterious to health or otherwise unsafe, the same being hereby declared to be a nuisance, the commissioner, or his authorized agent, shall forthwith condemn and destroy the same.
II. When an article detained or embargoed under paragraph I has been found by such agent to be adulterated, or misbranded, he shall petition the courts in whose jurisdiction the article is detained or embargoed for a libel for condemnation of such article. When such agent has found that an article so detained or embargoed is not adulterated or misbranded, he shall remove the tag or other marking.
Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:20
- commissioner: means the commissioner of the department of health and human services. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
- cosmetic: means (1) articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleaning, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and (2) articles intended for use as a component of any such articles, except that such term shall not include soap. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
- drug: means (1) articles recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, or official National Formulary, or any supplement to any of them; and (2) articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in man or other animals; and (3) articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals; and (4) articles intended for use as a component of any articles specified in clause (1), (2) or (3); but does not include devices or their components, parts, or accessories. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
- food: means (1) articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, (2) chewing gum, and (3) articles used for components of any such article. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- labeling: means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter (1) upon an article or any of its containers or wrappers, or (2) accompanying such article. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 146:2
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies corporate and politic as well as to individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:9
- petition: when used in connection with the equity jurisdiction of the superior court, and referring to a document filed with the court, shall mean complaint, and "petitioner" shall mean plaintiff. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:51
- Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
III. If the court finds that a detained or embargoed article is adulterated or misbranded, such article shall, after entry of the decree, be destroyed at the expense of the claimant thereof, under the supervision of such agent, and all court costs and fees, and storage and other proper expenses, shall be taxed against the claimant of such article or his agent: provided, that when the adulteration or misbranding can be corrected by proper labeling, or processing of the article, the court, after entry of the decree and after such costs, fees, and expenses have been paid and a good and sufficient bond, conditioned that such article shall be so labeled or processed, has been executed, may by order direct that such article be delivered to the claimant thereof for such labeling or processing under the supervision of an agent of the department of health and human services. The expense of such supervision shall be paid by the claimant. Such bond shall be returned to the claimant of the article on representation to the court by the commissioner that the article is no longer in violation of this chapter, and that the expenses of such supervision have been paid.
IV. Whenever the department of health and human services or any of its authorized agents shall find in any vehicle, room, building, or other structure, any meat, seafood, poultry, vegetable, fruit or other perishable articles which are unsound, or contain any filthy, decomposed, or putrid substance, or that may be poisonous or deleterious to health or otherwise unsafe, the same being hereby declared to be a nuisance, the commissioner, or his authorized agent, shall forthwith condemn and destroy the same.