The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall, in a manner consistent with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, after investigation, adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to supplement and give full effect to this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall establish sanitary regulations for manufacture and bottling of beverages, including the construction, sanitary conditions of buildings, grounds and equipment, sanitary conditions of persons in direct contact with the beverage or its ingredients. Such rules and regulations shall, among other things, establish standards of identity and composition, including a maximum standard of content for any substance that may be deleterious and minimum standards of composition for the proper enforcement of this chapter and for the protection of the public health and welfare. Such rules and regulations shall have the force of law.   [PL 1977, c. 694, §581 (AMD); PL 1979, c. 731, §19 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §6 (REV).]

It shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale or have in possession with intent to sell any beverage not manufactured or bottled in a beverage plant located in this State and licensed by the commissioner or located without this State and approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 1851.  

Beverages manufactured or bottled in a beverage plant not so licensed or approved shall be deemed to be a misbranded food within the meaning of Title 22, section 2157.