(a)  It shall be unlawful for any milk producer whose dairy farm is located wholly or partly in this state to sell or to offer to sell milk or milk products or to have milk stored for sale who does not possess at all times a Rhode Island producer’s permit from the director.

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(b)  It shall be unlawful for any milk hauler to transport any milk or milk products to any milk plant in the state of Rhode Island or to transport any milk in this state destined for sale in this state unless he or she shall at all times possess a Rhode Island milk hauler’s permit from the director.

(c)  It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a milk plant in the state of Rhode Island who does not possess a Rhode Island milk plant permit from the director with respect to each plant located in Rhode Island.

(d)  It shall be unlawful for any milk distributor to sell or offer to sell milk or milk products, including raw milk cheese, within the state of Rhode Island unless he or she shall at all times possess a milk distributor’s permit from the director.

(e)  It shall be unlawful for any milk hauler to transport any milk or milk products from any point outside the state into the state of Rhode Island for sale or processing in this state or for any milk plant located in Rhode Island to process any milk or milk products which come from any point outside the state of Rhode Island or for any milk distributor to sell any milk or milk products within this state which come from any point outside this state, unless:

(1)  Every producer who produces any part of the milk or milk products shall have been inspected and shall from time to time be inspected with the same minimum frequency, to the same degree, and according to the same requirements as provided in this chapter or any regulations promulgated under this chapter in the case of Rhode Island producers;

(2)  Every vehicle in which the milk is transported to the plant where processed shall from time to time be inspected with the same minimum frequency, to the same degree, and according to the same requirements as provided in this chapter or any regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter in the case of Rhode Island milk hauler permittees; and

(3)  The operator of each milk plant located outside the state of Rhode Island where any part of the milk is processed at all times possesses an out-of-state milk plant permit from the director.

(f)  It shall be unlawful for any person located in the state of Rhode Island to sell or offer for sale to any milk hauler or milk plant, or for any milk plant to pasteurize any raw milk for pasteurization, any part of which shall be used for grade A pasteurized milk or for any grade A milk product, unless the person at all times is in possession of a Rhode Island grade A producer’s permit.

(g)  The fees for the following permits referred to in this section shall be as set forth in § 23-1-54:

(1)  In-state milk processors;

(2)  Out-of-state milk processors; and

(3)  Milk distributors.

(h)  Milk producers and milk haulers shall be exempt from permit fees.