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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>357955</law_id><section_number>3.2-5128</section_number><catch_line>Duty of attorney for the Commonwealth when violation reported; Commissioner to give notice</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="5" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="4" identifier="IV">Food and Drink; Weights and Measures</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="51">Food and Drink</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="3" identifier="3">Adulteration, Misbranding, and False Advertising</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> institutes criminal proceedings against any person for any violation pursuant to this article, then: (i) he shall give appropriate notice to the person and give an opportunity for the person to present his views before the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, either orally or in writing, in person or by attorney, with regard to such contemplated proceeding, and (ii) he may report the violation to an attorney for the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-1332139" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5128/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It shall be the duty of each attorney for the Commonwealth, to whom the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> reports any violation of this article, to cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted in the appropriate <span class="dictionary">courts</span> without delay and to be prosecuted in the manner required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-1332140" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5128/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Nothing in this article shall require the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> to report <span class="dictionary">minor</span> violations of this article to the attorney for the Commonwealth, whenever he believes that the public interest will be adequately served in the circumstances by a suitable written notice or warning. <a id="paragraph-1332141" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-5128/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 3-312, 3-313; 1966, c. 702, &#xA7;&#xA7; 3.1-392, 3.1-393; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
