P.R. Laws tit. 3, § 203
(a) It shall be unlawful for any beneficiary of the programs of the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or of any other government agency to sell, transfer, cede, present or exchange any foodstuffs or provisions received by him for his or his family’s use under said programs and donated by the Government of the United States or the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or agencies thereof.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person, business or industrial entity to exchange or acquire in any way whatsoever, from beneficiaries of the programs of the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or of any other government agency, foodstuffs or provisions donated under said programs for personal or family use.
(c) Any person who, without the right to do so, appropriates for his personal use, or sells, transfers, cedes, presents or exchanges, or unlawfully acquires or enters into the possession of foodstuffs or provisions donated by the Government of the United States of America or the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and destined to a beneficiary of the food or provision distribution programs, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished according to the provisions of this section.
(d) Possession in any commercial establishment or place of business, for sale, or in any agricultural or industrial entity for any use other than consumption by the person to whom they are destined, of foodstuffs or provisions of those referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall be considered prima facie evidence of the unlawful acquisition of such articles; Provided, That such presumption shall not apply where possession is transitory, for transporting or conserving said articles with authorization of the beneficiary thereof.
(e) Any person or commercial or industrial entity violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five [dollars] ($25) nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or by imprisonment in jail for a term of not less than fifteen (15) nor more than ninety (90) days, or both, in the discretion of the court.
History —June 11, 1965, No. 16, p. 26, §§ 1—5.