Every biological product introduced into the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be automatically withheld in the possession of the importer for a term which shall not exceed thirty (30) days. He may not dispose of said product in any manner whatsoever and it shall be his duty to keep it in his possession until thirty (30) days shall have elapsed or until he shall have received authorization, in writing, from the Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico or his representative to the effect that such product has already been examined. Should said official, or his representative, deem it necessary, he may have each pack of any biological product examined in the pathological veterinary laboratory of the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico or in any other adequate laboratory, and if, as a result of such examination the biological product were found in any of the conditions specified in § 822 of this title, or where, without the need for an examination, such condition could be determined, the biological product shall be returned to its point of origin under the supervision of the Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico, or shall be seized and destroyed by said official or his representative, without any compensation whatsoever, at the option of the importer and at his expense. The finding to such effect, informing the importer of such alternatives, as well as the term provided in §§ 821—828 of this title to appeal therefrom, shall be notified to said importer by the Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico or his representative, through a writing signed by him and bearing the official seal of the Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico.
History —May 25, 1961, No. 12, p. 40, § 5.