3. It shall be an unlawful practice, and a violation of P.L.1960, c.39 (C. 56:8-1 et seq.) for any retail food store to accept the return of any groceries and other foodstuffs purchased by a consumer during, and for 30 days following, a declared public health emergency. A retail food store may accept the return of groceries and other foodstuffs if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the groceries and other foodstuffs are unsafe for use or otherwise adulterated within the meaning of R.S.24:5-8 as a result of any manufacturing error or defect. Any groceries or other foodstuffs accepted for return by a retail food store pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be offered for resale.

L.2020, c.16, s.3; amended 2021, c.150, s.2.