Virginia Law

A. The administrative procedures used to conduct case decisions under this chapter shall conform to the provisions of the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

B. The state regulatory agency shall comply with the following administrative procedures when summarily suspending a grade A permit as specified in 2VAC5-490-31 B:

1. The state regulatory agency shall serve upon the grade A permit holder a written notice of suspension. The written notice of suspension shall specify the violations in question and inform the grade A permit holder of the right to appear before the state regulatory agency in person, by counsel, or by other qualified representative at a fact-finding conference for the informal presentation of factual data, arguments, and proof to appeal this determination of violation;

2. Upon receipt of written application from any person whose grade A permit has been summarily suspended (within 30 days after the effective date of the summary suspension) the state regulatory agency shall within seven days after the date of receipt by the state regulatory agency of a written application from any person whose grade A permit has been summarily suspended proceed to hold an informal fact-finding conference to ascertain the facts of the violations in question and upon evidence presented at the informal fact-finding conference shall affirm, modify, or rescind the summary suspension;

3. The state regulatory agency shall, unless the parties consent, ascertain the fact basis for their decisions of cases through informal conference proceedings. Such conference proceedings include the rights of parties to the case to have reasonable notice thereof, to appear in person or by counsel or other qualified representative before the state regulatory agency for the informal presentation of factual data, argument, or proof in connection with any case, to have notice of any contrary fact basis or information in the possession of the agency that can be relied upon in making an adverse decision, to receive a prompt decision of any application for license, benefit, or renewal thereof, and to be informed, briefly and generally in writing, of the factual or procedural basis for an adverse decision in any case;

4. No person whose grade A permit has been summarily suspended may be granted an informal fact-finding conference by the state regulatory agency unless the state regulatory agency receives the person's written application within 30 days after the effective date of the summary suspension;

5. From any adverse decision of an informal fact-finding conference, the grade A permit holder may request a formal hearing under § 2.2-4020 of the Code of Virginia by writing the Program Manager of the Office of Dairy and Foods within 30 days stating the request and by providing the state regulatory agency with a statement of the issues in dispute. If the request for a formal hearing is denied, the state regulatory agency shall notify the grade A permit holder in writing and further may affirm or modify the decision of the informal fact-finding conference; and

6. If a formal hearing is denied, the state regulatory agency shall notify the grade A permit holder of the right to file an appeal in the circuit court.