§2137.  Unlawful transportation of diseased animals or livestock or adulterated meat

A.  It shall be unlawful for anyone to knowingly bring into the state or to transport through this state or to move within this state any adulterated meat or diseased livestock or animals without the express written approval of the commissioner of agriculture and forestry or his designee.  The board shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with this Chapter for the enforcement of this Section.

B.  Any person who knowingly violates any of the provisions of this Section or any rule or regulation administered and enforced by the board pursuant to this Section shall be subject to a civil penalty of five thousand dollars imposed in accordance with R.S. 3:2093.  Each act of bringing, transporting, or moving diseased livestock or adulterated meat into, through, or within this state shall be a separate violation.  Each day or partial day shall be a separate violation.

C.  In addition to the civil penalties and civil relief provided for in this Chapter, whoever intentionally, or in a criminally negligent manner, violates the provisions of this Section or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this Section shall be guilty of a crime and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than five thousand, nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year, nor more than ten years, or both.

Acts 2001, No. 650, §1; Acts 2008, No. 920, §1, eff. July 14, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 495, §1, eff. June 24, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 204, §3(B); Acts 2013, No. 115, §1.