Chapter 11. Food: Eggs Offered for Sale and State Egg Board

Section

16-42-11-1 "Fresh eggs" defined

16-42-11-2 "Retailer" defined

16-42-11-3 "Wholesaler" defined

16-42-11-4 Establishment of board; membership; term; oath; officers; compensation; business office

16-42-11-5 Powers and duties

16-42-11-6 Substandard eggs; prohibited sale

16-42-11-7 Proof of delivery

16-42-11-8 Farmers' and egg producers' exemption

16-42-11-9 Farmers or egg producers wholesaler or retailer registration

16-42-11-10 "Case" defined; registration statement; fees; wholesaler report permit

16-42-11-11 Prohibited sales or distribution

16-42-11-12 Purdue University; inspections

16-42-11-13 Fiscal management

16-42-11-14 Violations

16-42-11-15 Immunity from liability

16-42-11-1 "Fresh eggs" defined

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "fresh eggs" means consumer grades of eggs as defined by the standards of quality and weights as set forth by the state egg board. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC 25.

16-42-11-2 "Retailer" defined

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "retailer" means any person who sells shell eggs for human consumption and not for resale. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.

16-42-11-3 "Wholesaler" defined

Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "wholesaler" means any person engaged in buying eggs for human consumption for resale to retailers, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, or to state or federal institutions, operators of multiple unit retail outlets engaged in the distribution of eggs to their own retail units, or producers who sell or deliver eggs to retailers, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, or to state or federal institutions. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.

16-42-11-4 Establishment of board; membership; term; oath; officers; compensation; business office

Sec. 4. (a) The state egg board is established. The board consists of nine (9) members appointed by the governor as follows:

(1) One (1) member from a list of not less than three (3) persons submitted and recommended by the Indiana State Poultry Association, Inc.

(2) One (1) member from a list of not less than three (3) persons submitted and recommended by the Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc.

(3) One (1) member from a list of not less than three (3) persons submitted and recommended by the Indiana Retail Grocers' Association, Inc.

(4) One (1) member from a list of not less than three (3) persons submitted and recommended by the Indiana Retail Council, Inc.

(5) One (1) member from a list of not less than three (3) persons submitted and recommended by the Egg Council of the Indiana State Poultry Association, Inc.

(6) One (1) member from a list of not less than three (3) persons submitted and recommended by the trustees of Purdue University as a representative of the office of agricultural research programs.

(7) One (1) member at large to represent the interests of the consumer.

(8) One (1) member to represent those engaged in the wholesaling of eggs through the Federal-State Egg Grading Program in Indiana.

(9) One (1) member to represent the interests of the food service industry.

(b) All appointments are for terms of three (3) years. However, an appointment to fill an unexpired term shall be made by the governor for the remainder of that term only.

(c) The recommendations provided for in this section shall be submitted to the governor within ten (10) days before an appointment is to be made to the state egg board. All appointments by the governor under this chapter shall be made within twenty (20) days after submission to the governor of the recommendations for appointments. If the recommendations are not submitted to the governor within the specified time, the governor shall make the appointment without the recommendations.

(d) The members of the state egg board shall, before entering upon their duties, take and subscribe to the oath of office provided for other state officers. The oath of office shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall administer the oath as a part of the duties of the office of secretary of state.


(e) The state egg board shall elect from its own membership the following officers:

(1) President.

(2) A vice president who serves in the president's absence or disability.

(3) Recording secretary.

The officers serve for one (1) year or until their successors are elected and qualified.

(f) Each member of the state egg board who is not a state employee is entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1(b). The member is also entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties as provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget agency.

(g) The state egg board shall provide a suitable office, equipment, supplies, and facilities for the conduct of the board's business. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.40-1993, SEC.55.

16-42-11-5 Powers and duties

Sec. 5. (a) The state egg board shall administer, enforce, and carry out this chapter.

(b) The state egg board shall do the following:

(1) Formulate and determine standards of quality and weights of eggs sold or offered for sale as fresh eggs.

(2) Regulate the sale of and commerce in eggs sold or offered for sale at retail or wholesale as fresh eggs and regulate the sale of eggs by wholesalers and retailers.

(3) Formulate and publish definitions, names, and grades of fresh eggs and specifications for the care and handing of eggs that may be offered for sale at retail and wholesale as fresh eggs under the terms of this chapter and for the care and handling of eggs that may be offered for sale by wholesalers and retailers as eggs fit for human consumption.

(4) Provide for and issue permits to wholesalers or retailers of fresh eggs and provide for the registration of wholesalers and retailers of eggs.

(5) Adopt rules necessary for or incident to carrying out this chapter.

(6) Investigate and report violations of this chapter and violations of the rules of the state egg board to the proper authorities for prosecution.

(7) Revoke any registration or permit for a violation of this chapter or of the rules adopted by the state egg board.

(8) Hold four (4) regular meetings at quarterly intervals at the time and place the state egg board designates. The president of the state egg board may call special meetings of the state egg board whenever in the president's judgment it becomes necessary. The president shall call a special meeting of the state egg board upon written request of a majority of the members of the state egg board.

(9) The state egg board shall publish or cause to be published an annual report of the board's work. In addition, the state egg board may periodically publish or cause to be published and distributed other information concerning eggs.

As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.

16-42-11-6 Substandard eggs; prohibited sale

Sec. 6. A person may not sell, offer for sale, or advertise for sale at retail or wholesale shell eggs that do not meet the standards of quality and weight set forth by the state egg board. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.

16-42-11-7 Proof of delivery

Sec. 7. (a) Every person selling eggs to a retailer shall furnish written proof of delivery at the time of delivery showing:

(1) the date;

(2) the grades; and

(3) the quantity of the eggs;

according to the standards prescribed by the state egg board.

(b) A copy of the proof of delivery shall be kept on file by retailers at their respective places of business for thirty (30) days and at all reasonable times shall be available and open for inspection by accredited inspectors or representatives of the state egg board. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.

16-42-11-8 Farmers' and egg producers' exemption

Sec. 8. Farmers and other bona fide egg producers who sell and deliver, on the premises where produced, eggs produced by their own flocks on their own premises are exempt from this chapter. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.

16-42-11-9 Farmers or egg producers wholesaler or retailer registration

Sec. 9. A farmer or bona fide egg producer may apply for registration as a wholesaler or retailer under this chapter and may, upon application, after being registered receive a permit to sell eggs. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.

16-42-11-10 "Case" defined: registration statement; fees; wholesaler report permit

Sec. 10. (a) As used in this section, "case" means thirty (30) dozen.

(b) Every wholesaler or retailer selling shell eggs shall, before July 1 of each year, file with the state egg board a statement setting forth the fact that the wholesaler or retailer desires to sell fresh shell eggs. The statement shall designate the name of the wholesaler or retailer desiring to register and the location of the wholesaler's or retailer's principal office. The state egg board shall furnish blank forms for registration. The state egg board shall register the facts set forth in the statement in a permanent record. The state egg board shall furnish to each registered wholesaler a registration number upon payment of the registration fee and deposit.

(c) The state egg board shall require and collect from each wholesaler at the time of registration a fee based upon the average number of cases of eggs sold to retailers, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, schools or to state or federal institutions each week during the preceding calendar year, as follows:

Average Number

of Cases Sold Registration Fee

0 - 100 $ 30

101 - 250 $ 60

251 - 500 $ 90

501 - 1,000 $ 120

1,001 and over $ 150

(d) The state egg board shall require and collect from each wholesaler at the time of registration a deposit equal to the product obtained by using a multiplier of six cents ($0.06) and a multiplicand that is that number of cases of eggs sold in that quarter of the immediately preceding five (5) calendar quarters in which the highest number of cases of eggs were sold by the wholesaler to retailers, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, or to state or federal institutions. However, if the wholesaler does not have a five (5) quarter history, the state egg board shall fix the deposit at a reasonable amount.

(e) The state egg board shall require and collect from each retail store or unit of retailing a fee based upon the average number of cases of eggs sold each week during the preceding calendar year, as follows:

Average Number

of Cases Sold Registration Fee

1-5 $20

more than 5 $25

(f) All registered wholesalers must make application to the state egg board for a permit to report the case volume of shell eggs sold in Indiana and submit a fee of six cents ($0.06) for each thirty (30) dozen eggs or a fraction of that number of the volume reported. In applying for a permit, the wholesaler must agree to do the following:

(1) Keep records the state egg board considers necessary to indicate accurately the case volume of shell eggs sold in Indiana.

(2) Grant the state egg board permission to examine those records and verify the statement of the number and grade of eggs reported.

(3) Report under oath to the state egg board, on forms furnished by the state egg board, the number of eggs reported during the period covered.

(g) The state egg board may grant the permit if the board determines that the action will lead to efficient enforcement of this chapter. The state egg board may revoke the permit at any time if it appears to the state egg board that the wholesaler is not complying with the terms of the agreement entered into at the time of the issuance. The report of eggs is due and the fees are payable quarterly on the last day of the month following the end of the quarter. If:

(1) the report is not filed and the fee paid by the tenth day following the due date;

(2) the report is false; or

(3) the requirements of this chapter have not been complied with;

the state egg board may revoke the permit. If the fee is unpaid after the ten (10) day grace period, a penalty of ten percent (10%) in addition to the amount due shall be assessed. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.183-1993, SEC.1.

16-42-11-11 Prohibited sales or distribution

Sec. 11. (a) A person may not sell as a wholesaler to a retailer, hotel, restaurant, hospital, nursing home, school, or state or federal institution shell eggs for human consumption that are not subject to being reported as provided in this chapter.

(b) A person operating multiple retail outlets may not distribute or deliver to retail units shell eggs for human consumption that are not subject to being reported as provided for in this chapter. A retail store or retail unit may not receive from a wholesaler shell eggs for human consumption that are not subject to being reported as provided for in this chapter. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.

16-42-11-12 Purdue University; inspections

Sec. 12. The dean of agriculture of Purdue University may, subject to the approval of the state egg board, employ an executive administrator, inspectors, clerks, and other assistants necessary to carry out this chapter under the direction and supervision of the state egg board. The inspectors shall inspect and examine eggs sold, offered for sale, or exposed for sale as fresh eggs and shall also inspect and examine eggs sold by wholesalers and retailers as fit for human consumption under this chapter at times and places and in the manner the state egg board directs. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.40-1993, SEC.56.

16-42-11-13 Fiscal management

Sec. 13. All money received by the state egg board shall be paid to the treasurer of Purdue University who shall, under the direction of the state egg board, expend the money on proper vouchers to meet all necessary expenditures for carrying out this chapter and for any other expenses of Purdue University agricultural programs authorized by law and in support of the purposes of this chapter. The dean of agriculture shall submit to the state egg board an annual report showing the receipts and expenditures of all money received and expended by the director under this chapter. The report shall be made a part of the annual report of the state egg board. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.40-1993, SEC.57.

16-42-11-14 Violations

Sec. 14. A person who violates this chapter commits a Class C infraction. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25.

16-42-11-15 Immunity from liability

Sec. 15. The:

(1) members of the state egg board;

(2) dean of agriculture of Purdue University; and

(3) employees of the state egg board;

are not liable in their individual capacity, except to the state, for an act done or omitted in connection with the performance of their respective duties under this chapter. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.40-1993, SEC.58.