Drug residue and other inhibitory substance levels for milk. Prohibition of sale or distribution. Permit suspension. Penalty

(a) No milk processor issued a license under section 22-229 shall accept for processing milk containing drug residues or other inhibitory substances at or above the tolerance levels recommended by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The commissioner shall prohibit the sale or distribution of such milk, packaged milk or milk products that are found to contain such drug residues or other inhibitory substances at or above the tolerance levels recommended by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The milk processor responsible for accepting for processing milk at or above tolerance levels recommended by the United States Food and Drug Administration shall stop the sale of such milk and cause such milk to be destroyed in a manner acceptable to the commissioner. The commissioner may: (1) Suspend the milk processor's license until the drug residues or other inhibitory substances are below the tolerance levels, (2) initiate a product recall of the milk and cause it to be destroyed in a manner acceptable to the commissioner, or (3) in the event of a second violation within any twelve-month period, revoke the milk processor's license and initiate action to assess a civil penalty pursuant to section 22-7. (b) Whenever milk from a milk producer issued a permit under section 22-172 is found to contain drug residues or other inhibitory substances at or above the tolerance levels recommended by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the commissioner shall prohibit the sale or distribution of such milk. The milk producer responsible for producing such milk shall stop the sale of the milk and cause the milk to be destroyed in a manner acceptable to the commissioner. The commissioner may: (1) Suspend the milk producer's permit until such time as the drug residues or other inhibitory substances are below the tolerance levels, and (2) in the event of a third violation within any twelve-month period, the commissioner may revoke the milk producer's permit and initiate action to assess a civil penalty pursuant to section 22-7. (c) Whenever milk from a retail raw milk producer issued a permit under section 22-173a is found to contain drug residues or other inhibitory substances at or above the tolerance levels recommended by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the commissioner shall prohibit the sale or distribution of such retail raw milk. The retail raw milk producer responsible for the production of such retail raw milk shall stop the sale of the retail raw milk and cause the retail raw milk to be destroyed in a manner acceptable to the commissioner. The commissioner may: (1) Suspend the retail raw milk producer's permit until such time as the drug residues or other inhibitory substances are below the tolerance levels, (2) initiate a product recall of the retail raw milk and cause it to be destroyed in a manner acceptable to the commissioner, or (3) in the event of a second violation within any twelve-month period, revoke the retail raw milk producer's permit and initiate action to assess a civil penalty pursuant to section 22-7.