(a) Recognition is hereby extended to the various municipal inspection departments now in existence or which may hereafter be inaugurated within the Commonwealth. This act does not prohibit any political subdivision from enactment and enforcement of regulations or ordinances establishing a system of continuous meat and poultry products inspection, provided such regulations or ordinances establish a system at least equal to Commonwealth inspection. A copy of each such regulation or ordinance, including any amendments thereof made subsequently, shall be forwarded by the political subdivision to the department. If such regulations or ordinances provide a system of inspection at least equal to Commonwealth inspection, the regulation or ordinance shall prevail in lieu of the Commonwealth inspection system. Not less than twice each year the department shall investigate each system of municipal inspection to determine whether such system is being operated in accordance with the provisions of existing regulations or ordinances. If the department finds after investigation that such municipal inspection system is not being enforced within the provisions of existing regulations or ordinances, the secretary shall give written notice of such findings to the chief administrative officer of the political subdivision. If the department thereafter finds, not less than thirty days after the giving of such written notice, that such municipal inspection system is not being conducted in a manner consistent with existing regulations or ordinances, the secretary shall give written notice of such finding to the political subdivision and thereupon all persons and establishments theretofore operating under the municipal system of inspection shall be subject to the Commonwealth inspection system.

(b) When a system of municipal inspection is approved by the secretary, the political subdivision shall use the State inspection stamp but “(Name of political subdivision) Approved” may be added thereto. The secretary in supervising approved municipal inspection systems of establishments shall transmit all orders to such establishments through local authorities.