01-001-26 Me. Code R. § 4

Current through 2025-03, January 15, 2025
Section 001-26-4 - Mandatory Inspection
A. Blueberry handlers shall not ship, sell or offer for sale blueberries in consumer packs, except following official inspection by a representative of the Department and the issuance by that representative of a federal/state inspection certificate or affixing a seal to the lot of blueberries so inspected. Blueberries which fail to meet grade requirements, as determined by the inspector, shall not be shipped, sold or offered for sale in consumer peeks on the fresh market until reworked by the handler and reinspected by the inspector.
B. In order to arrange for inspections, blueberry handlers shall give adequate notice to the Division of Quality Assurance at the Department or otherwise to the Department's authorized inspector. Inspection dates and times shall be scheduled by arrangement with the inspector involved.
C. All inspections shall be charged at a fee to the blueberry handler requesting the same. The fee shall be established by the Commissioner to cover the personnel, travel and administrative costs of running the inspection program. for blueberries. These fees may be established as an hourly rate or on a per-inspection or per-inspected-unit basis, with a premium rate to be charged for inspection time requested at other than ordinary business hours. The Commissioner shall solicit recommendations from the Blueberry Marketing Committee in establishing inspection fees and shall send advance written notification of such fee rates to blueberry handlers who participate in the referendum or otherwise request the same. Inspection fees billed by the Department shall be paid promptly, not more than 30 days following the date of billing. inspections will be suspended for any handler who does not make timely payment of fees billed.

01-001 C.M.R. ch. 26, § 4