(a) The department shall hire inspectors of livestock that is subject to inspection under this chapter, and of carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, meat food products, and sanitary conditions of establishments in which meat and meat food products are prepared. An inspector is an employee of the department and is under supervision of the chief officer in charge of inspection.
(b) The department shall designate at least one state inspector for each state representative district.

(c) The chief officer in charge of inspection is responsible for animal health as it relates to public health. The chief officer in charge of inspection must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state or must be eligible for such a license when employed and must obtain the license not later than two years after the date of employment.
(d) An inspector shall perform the duties provided by this chapter and department rules. An inspection or examination must be performed as provided by department rules.
(e) An inspector may not stamp, mark, tag, or label a carcass, part of a carcass, or a meat food product unless it has been inspected and found unadulterated.