§ 21-2-7. Permits.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any milk producer whose dairy farm is located wholly or partly
in this state to sell or to offer to sell milk or milk products or to have milk stored
for sale who does not possess at all times a Rhode Island producer's permit from the
director.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any milk hauler to transport any milk or milk products to
any milk plant in the state of Rhode Island or to transport any milk in this state
destined for sale in this state unless he or she shall at all times possess a Rhode
Island milk hauler's permit from the director.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a milk plant in the state of Rhode
Island who does not possess a Rhode Island milk plant permit from the director with
respect to each plant located in Rhode Island.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any milk distributor to sell or offer to sell milk or milk
products, including raw milk cheese, within the state of Rhode Island unless he or
she shall at all times possess a milk distributor's permit from the director.
(e) It shall be unlawful for any milk hauler to transport any milk or milk products from
any point outside the state into the state of Rhode Island for sale or processing
in this state or for any milk plant located in Rhode Island to process any milk or
milk products which come from any point outside the state of Rhode Island or for any
milk distributor to sell any milk or milk products within this state which come from
any point outside this state, unless:
(1) Every producer who produces any part of the milk or milk products shall have been
inspected and shall from time to time be inspected with the same minimum frequency,
to the same degree, and according to the same requirements as provided in this chapter
or any regulations promulgated under this chapter in the case of Rhode Island producers;
(2) Every vehicle in which the milk is transported to the plant where processed shall
from time to time be inspected with the same minimum frequency, to the same degree,
and according to the same requirements as provided in this chapter or any regulations
promulgated pursuant to this chapter in the case of Rhode Island milk hauler permittees;
and
(3) The operator of each milk plant located outside the state of Rhode Island where any
part of the milk is processed at all times possesses an out-of-state milk plant permit
from the director.
(f) It shall be unlawful for any person located in the state of Rhode Island to sell or
offer for sale to any milk hauler or milk plant, or for any milk plant to pasteurize
any raw milk for pasteurization, any part of which shall be used for grade A pasteurized
milk or for any grade A milk product, unless the person at all times is in possession
of a Rhode Island grade A producer's permit.
(g) The fees for the following permits referred to in this section shall be as set forth
in § 23-1-54:
(1) In-state milk processors;
(2) Out-of-state milk processors; and
(3) Milk distributors.
(h) Milk producers and milk haulers shall be exempt from permit fees.