ENROLLED
H. B. 4115

(By Delegates Douglas, Collins,
Stalnaker, Tucker and Capito)

[Passed February 17, 1998; in effect ninety days from passage.]

AN ACT to amend and reenact section one, article two-b, chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, continuing the meat inspection division of the department of agriculture.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section one, article two-b, chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2B. INSPECTION OF MEAT AND POULTRY.
§19-2B-1. Purpose and construction; continuation of meat and poultry inspection program.
Subject to the provisions of section seven of this article, the basic purpose of this article is to provide for the inspection, labeling and disposition of animals, poultry, carcasses, meat products and poultry products which are to be sold or offered for sale through commercial outlets for human consumption, the licensing of commercial slaughterers, custom slaughterers and processors, and the inspection of slaughterhouses and processing plants located in the state of West Virginia. This article, being intended to protect the health of the citizens of West Virginia, shall be liberally construed.
After having conducted a preliminary performance review through its joint committee on government operations, pursuant to article ten, chapter four of this code, the Legislature hereby finds and declares that the meat inspection program should be continued and reestablished. Accordingly, notwithstanding the provisions of article ten, chapter four of this code, the meat and poultry inspection program shall continue to exist until the first day of July, two thousand four.