H-1669

AN ACT Relating to the uniform Washington food, drug, and cosmetic act; amending RCW 69.04.001, 69.04.110, 69.04.120, 69.04.398, and 69.04.780; adding a new section to chapter 69.04 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 69.04.001 and 1945 c 257 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

This chapter is intended to enact state legislation (1) which safeguards the public health and promotes the public welfare by protecting the consuming public from ((~~injury by product use~~)) (a) potential injury by product use; (b) products that are adulterated; or (c) products that have been produced under unsanitary conditions, and the purchasing public from injury by merchandising deceit((,)) flowing from intrastate commerce in food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics; and (2) which is uniform, as provided in this chapter, with the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act; and with the federal trade commission act, to the extent it expressly outlaws the false advertisement of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics; and (3) which thus promotes uniformity of such law and its administration and enforcement, in and throughout the United States.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 69.04 RCW to read as follows:

Whenever the director finds that a person has committed a violation of a provision of this chapter, the director may impose upon and collect from the violator a civil penalty not exceeding one thousand dollars per violation per day. Each and every such violation shall be a separate and distinct offense. Imposition of the civil penalty shall be subject to a hearing in conformance with chapter 34.05 RCW.

Sec. 3. RCW 69.04.110 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 7 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:

Whenever the director shall find, or shall have probable cause to believe, that an article subject to this chapter is in intrastate commerce in violation of this chapter, and that its embargo under this section is required to protect the consuming or purchasing public, due to its being adulterated or misbranded, or to otherwise protect the public from injury, or possible injury, he or she is hereby authorized to affix to such article a notice of its embargo and against its sale in intrastate commerce, without permission given under this chapter. But if, after such article has been so embargoed, the director shall find that such article does not involve a violation of this chapter, such embargo shall be forthwith removed.

Sec. 4. RCW 69.04.120 and 1983 c 95 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

When the director has embargoed an article, he or she shall, forthwith and without delay and in no event later than ((~~twenty~~)) thirty days after the affixing of notice of its embargo, petition the superior court for an order affirming the embargo. The court then has jurisdiction, for cause shown and after prompt hearing to any claimant of the embargoed article, to issue an order which directs the removal of the embargo or the destruction or the correction and release of the article. An order for destruction or correction and release shall contain such provision for the payment of pertinent court costs and fees and administrative expenses as is equitable and which the court deems appropriate in the circumstances. An order for correction and release may contain such provision for a bond as the court finds indicated in the circumstances.

Sec. 5. RCW 69.04.398 and 1986 c 203 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The purpose of RCW 69.04.110, 69.04.392, 69.04.394, and 69.04.396 is to promote uniformity of state legislation and ((~~regulations~~)) rules with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act 21 USC 301 et seq. and regulations adopted thereunder. In accord with such declared purpose any regulation adopted under said federal food, drug and cosmetic act concerning food in effect on July 1, 1975, and not adopted under any other specific provision of RCW 69.04.110, 69.04.392, 69.04.394, and 69.04.396 are hereby deemed to have been adopted under the provision hereof. Further, to promote such uniformity any regulation adopted hereafter under the provisions of the federal food, drug and cosmetic act concerning food and published in the federal register shall be deemed to have been adopted under the provisions of RCW 69.04.110, 69.04.392, 69.04.394, and 69.04.396 in accord with chapter 34.05 RCW as enacted or hereafter amended. The director may, however, within thirty days of the publication of the adoption of any such regulation under the federal food, drug and cosmetic act give public notice that a hearing will be held to determine if such regulation shall not be applicable under the provisions of RCW 69.04.110, 69.04.392, 69.04.394, and 69.04.396. Such hearing shall be in accord with the requirements of chapter 34.05 RCW as enacted or hereafter amended.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section do not apply to rules adopted by the director as necessary to permit the production of kosher food products as defined in RCW 69.90.010.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section the director may adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 6. RCW 69.04.780 and 1945 c 257 s 96 are each amended to read as follows:

The director shall cause the investigation and examination of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics subject to this chapter. The director shall have the right (1) to take a sample or specimen of any such article, for examination under this chapter, upon tendering the market price therefor to the person having such article in custody; and (2) to enter any place or establishment within this state, at reasonable times, for the purpose of taking a sample or specimen of any such article, for such examination.

The director and the director's deputies, assistants, and inspectors are authorized to do all acts and things necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including the taking of verified statements. Such department personnel are empowered to administer oaths of verification on the statements.