13:1E-99.52. Determination of compliance by department

9. a. The department shall have the right to enter the premises of a package manufacturer, product manufacturer, distributor or retailer at which packages or packaging components are manufactured or stored, or at which products packaged in packages or packaging components are sold or offered for sale or for promotional purposes, in order to determine compliance with the provisions of this act, or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto. The department may, at any time during normal business hours and upon presentation of appropriate credentials, conduct inspections, including the taking of samples of products packaged in a package or packaging component, for the purpose of testing the package or packaging component. The department may be required to purchase any product packaged in a package or packaging component for which a sample is sought at a retail establishment, if requested to do so by the retailer.

b. The department may request, by certified mail, that any package manufacturer, product manufacturer or distributor transmit to the department a written certification that a specified package or packaging component is in compliance with the provisions of this act. The package manufacturer, product manufacturer or distributor, as the case may be, shall submit copies of each declaration of exemption and certification of compliance to the department within 45 days of receipt of the request. Upon receipt by the department of the information requested from the package manufacturer, product manufacturer or distributor, the department shall review this information and shall verify that all certifications of compliance are complete and that all declarations of exemption claimed are valid and in accordance with the criteria provided in section 5 of this act.

L.1991,c.520,s.9.