If the director of agriculture has not entered into an agreement with the United States department of agriculture in compliance with section 918.44 of the Revised Code, the director shall establish and maintain a state acceptance service within the department of agriculture to examine and monitor compliance by meat and poultry vendors with the specifications of the state purchase contracts awarded them under section 125.11 of the Revised Code, and by establishments, as defined in section 918.01 or 918.21 of the Revised Code, subject to state or federal inspection. State acceptance service shall be made available to such vendors and establishments within the state from eight a.m. to five p.m. Monday through Friday.

At least forty-eight hours, excluding Saturday and Sunday, before the date on which a vendor or authorized representative from such an establishment desires examination and monitoring of the production of meat products, as defined in section 918.01 of the Revised Code, or poultry products, as defined in section 918.21 of the Revised Code, that the vendor or establishment intends to supply to the state under a state purchase contract, a vendor or authorized representative from such an establishment shall contact the state acceptance service and request examination and monitoring. A state acceptor shall examine and monitor the production of the meat or poultry products to determine whether there is compliance with the state purchase contract specifications. The containers of products found to be in compliance shall be sealed, dated, and marked with an official mark. The state acceptor shall provide an official acceptance certificate to accompany each shipment to its destination.

The director shall train and appoint as state acceptors inspectors, as defined in sections 918.01 and 918.21 of the Revised Code.

Acceptance may be provided by the United States department of agriculture at the option of the vendor or authorized representative of such an establishment.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Effective Date: 06-20-1994