Michigan Department of Agriculture inspects animal remedies for compliance with the Livestock and Poultry Remedies Act and the rules promulgated under the act. These inspections determine if the remedies you buy have been licensed. The licensing process involves determining whether or not remedies have obtained proper approvals from federal agencies or are otherwise considered safe. The Livestock and Poultry Remedies Act gives MDA the authority to enter, during normal business hours, all places of business, mills, factories, buildings, vehicles, cars, vessels, and parcels of any kind used in the manufacture, transportation, importation, sale, or storage of any animal remedy to determine compliance with the act. Of course, all of this is done within reasonable limits, and in a reasonable manner.

To ensure that companies comply with Michigan's licensing and labeling requirements, MDA inspectors may be found anywhere that animal remedies are sold. Such places include farm suppliers, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and wholesale distributors, to name a few.

MDA Inspection Process

MDA Inspectors:

• Check animal remedy products to make sure that they are, in fact, licensed.

Violation notices are promptly issued to those companies distributing animal remedy products that are not properly licensed. If they fail to obtain the license(s) within a reasonable period of time, orders are given to remove their products from sale.

• Examine labels to see that they meet minimum labeling requirements set forth in the Livestock and Poultry Remedies Act and the Remedy Regulation.

If serious labeling violations are observed, orders may be given to the seller to immediately remove the offending product from distribution.