Section 273. No person shall engage in the business of sterilizing articles or filling materials referred to in sections two hundred and seventy to two hundred and seventy-six, inclusive, without first obtaining a license from the department.

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No sterilizer located outside the commonwealth shall ship his product into the commonwealth without first obtaining a license from the department.

No manufacturer, dealer or distributor shall receive or purchase any secondhand filling material, feathers, down or hair for use in the manufacture, renovation or repair of an article of bedding or upholstered furniture from a sterilizer who is not licensed as provided in this section.

Every such person shall apply for a license and set forth the place where the sterilizer’s apparatus will be located, the type and kind of equipment to be used, the names and addresses of the true owners of the sterilizing establishment and such other data as the department may from time to time require.

The department shall cause an investigation to be made and if it is satisfied that the apparatus will comply with the regulations of the department made pursuant to sections two hundred and seventy to two hundred and seventy-six, inclusive, the license shall be issued.

Inspection shall be made from time to time to determine whether the sterilizer is fully and faithfully complying with all of the provisions of this law and with the regulations promulgated by the department with respect to sterilization.

No person shall use any material to make any article of bedding or upholstered furniture for sale that is made from material

(a) that comes from an animal or fowl,

(b) that contains any bugs, vermin, insects or filth,

(c) that is unsanitary,

(d) that contains burlap or other material which has been used for balings, or

(e) any secondhand filling material,

unless such material has been thoroughly sterilized by a process approved by the department.

Every article of upholstered furniture or bedding from any private or public hospital, jail or other institution or which has been used by any person suffering from an infectious or contagious disease, shall be sterilized before it is repaired or renovated.

New or sterilized articles of upholstered furniture or bedding or materials shall at all times be kept separate from any secondhand articles or materials that are unsterilized.

Secondhand upholstered furniture or bedding, or secondhand filling materials or other component parts to be used or which can be used in upholstered furniture or bedding, received from outside of this commonwealth shall comply with all the sterilization provisions of sections two hundred and seventy to two hundred and seventy-six, inclusive, before it is accepted, sold or delivered, either directly or indirectly by any person.

All secondhand mattresses, if intended for resale, shall be sterilized as required by sections two hundred and seventy to two hundred and seventy-six, inclusive.

A person engaged in the business of renting articles of bedding shall cause such articles of bedding to be sterilized before being returned to use.