§ 16C — Issuance and renewal of certificate of registration for a dairy farm; inspection

Section 16C. The commissioner may issue a certificate of registration for a dairy farm which, upon inspection made by him within thirty days prior to the date of issuance of such certificate, clearly indicates satisfactory compliance with the requirements established pursuant to section thirteen for the approval of dairy farms. The certificates of registration for any given registration year shall be plainly distinguishable by color from those issued during immediately preceding years. Each dairy farm registered by the commissioner shall receive without cost a numbered certificate of registration which shall, while in effect, be posted in a conspicuous place at all times on said farm. Each certificate of registration shall expire on the following June thirtieth, if for a farm located within the commonwealth, and on December thirty-first, if for a farm located without the commonwealth, and an annual application for renewal thereof shall be made to the commissioner not later than the preceding May thirty-first in the first instance, and not later than the preceding November thirtieth, in the second instance, on forms furnished by the commissioner. If a certificate of registration is lost, a duplicate copy may be obtained from the commissioner upon written application and at a cost to be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven. The commissioner may also, from time to time, renew a certificate of registration; provided, that he has determined that continuing compliance is being maintained with requirements established pursuant to section thirteen for the approval of dairy farms. The commissioner may accept, as a basis for the issuance or renewal of certificates of registration, the inspection reports of milk inspectors within the commonwealth with respect to farms within or without the commonwealth which have been inspected by them; provided, that such reports certify that such farms maintain compliance with said requirements. The commissioner may accept, as a basis for the renewal of certificates of registration for farms located outside the commonwealth, inspection reports made by the duly authorized regulatory agency of another state with respect to farms which are located in said state; provided that said state agency:(a) is certified by the Food and Drug Administration, Public Health Service, United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare; and(b) certifies with respect to each such report that the farm involved was, upon inspection by said state agency, in compliance with the requirements of said other state for approval of dairy farms; and(c) accepts the right of the commissioner, based upon reasonable information alleging violation of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to said section thirteen by a dairy farm located outside the commonwealth to assure correction of such violation by the duly authorized regulatory agency of the state involved; provided, that if the violations are not so corrected within a reasonable time, an inspection of the dairy farm for such purpose may be made by the commissioner.