CHAPTER 10. Organic Foods [46000 - 46029]
( Chapter 10 added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1262, Sec. 2.5. )
(a) This chapter and Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code shall be known and may be cited as the California Organic Food and Farming Act.
(b) The secretary and county agricultural commissioners under the supervision and direction of the secretary shall enforce regulations adopted by the National Organic Program (NOP) (Section 6517 of the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.)), and Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code and this act applicable to any person selling products as
organic.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 2. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
This chapter shall be interpreted in conjunction with Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code and regulations adopted by the National Organic Program (Section 6517 of the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.)).
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 3. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
(a) All organic food or product regulations and any amendments to those regulations adopted pursuant to the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.), that are in effect on the date this bill is enacted or that are adopted after that date, shall be the organic food and product regulations of this state.
(b) The secretary may, by regulation, prescribe conditions under which organic foods or other products not addressed by the National Organic Program may be sold in this state.
(c) The purpose of the act shall be to do both of the following:
(1) Promote coordination of federal, state, and local agencies in implementing the National Organic Program.
(2) Support organic agriculture through education, outreach, and other programmatic activities.
(d) The secretary may receive and expend state and federal funds for activities authorized under this act.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 4. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
(a) The secretary shall establish an advisory committee, which shall be known as the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, for the purpose of advising the secretary with respect to his or her responsibilities under this act.
(b) The advisory committee shall advise the secretary on education, outreach, and technical assistance for producers.
(c) The advisory committee shall be comprised of 15 members. Each member may have an alternate. Six members and their alternates shall be producers, at least one of whom shall be a producer of meat, fowl, fish, dairy products, or eggs. Two members and their alternates shall be processors, one member and his or her alternate shall be wholesale distributors,
one member and his or her alternate shall be representatives of an accredited certifying agency operating in the state, one member and his or her alternate shall be consumer representatives, one member and his or her alternate shall be environmental representatives, two members and their alternates shall be technical representatives with scientific credentials related to agricultural chemicals, toxicology, or food science, and one member and his or her alternate shall be retail representatives. Except for the consumer, environmental, and technical representatives, the members of the advisory committee and their alternates shall have derived a substantial portion of their business income, wages, or salary as a result of services they provide that directly result in the production, handling, processing, or retailing of products sold as organic for at least three years preceding their appointment to the advisory committee. The consumer and environmental representatives and their alternates shall not have a
financial interest in the direct sales or marketing of the organic product industry and shall be members or employees of representatives of recognized nonprofit organizations whose principal purpose is the protection of consumer health or protection of the environment. The technical representatives and their alternates shall not have a financial interest in the production, handling, processing, or marketing of the organic products industry. The technical representatives may be involved in organic research or technical review providing they have no financial benefit from results of the research project or technical review.
(d) An alternate member shall serve at an advisory committee meeting only in the absence of, and shall have the same powers and duties as, the category that he or she is representing as alternate, except for duties and powers as an officer of the committee. The number of alternates present who are not serving in the capacity
of a member shall not be considered in determining a quorum.
(e) An alternate member may serve at an advisory committee subcommittee meeting only in the absence of, and shall have the same powers and duties as, the member whom he or she is designated as alternate, except for duties and powers as a subcommittee chairperson.
(f) The members of the advisory committee and their alternates shall be reimbursed for the reasonable expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties, as determined by the advisory committee and approved by the secretary.
(g) The secretary or his or her representative, the State Public Health Officer or his or her representative, and a county agricultural commissioner may serve as ex officio members of the advisory committee.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 561, Sec. 61. (AB 1516) Effective January 1, 2018.)
(a) To the extent that funds are available, the secretary, in consultation with the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, may establish procedures for and conduct all of the following activities:
(1) Receive and investigate complaints filed by any person concerning suspected acts of noncompliance with this act or federal organic standards.
(2) Conduct periodic spot inspections.
(3) Conduct periodic prohibited substance testing on products labeled as organic.
(4) Conduct farmers’ market
inspections.
(5) Support organic agriculture through education, outreach, and other programmatic activities.
(6) Reimburse investigation, enforcement, and market surveillance expenses, including expenses incurred by any county agricultural commissioner for actions conducted pursuant to this chapter.
(7) Conduct hearings, appeals, mediation, or settlement conferences from actions taken to enforce this chapter.
(b) Investigation, inspection, and prohibited material testing reports shall be forwarded to the secretary for any required enforcement action.
(c) The secretary shall coordinate activities authorized under this section with other county and state licensing, registration, inspection,
and fee collection procedures applicable to registrants.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 6. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
(a) Following the promulgation of the national materials list by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Secs. 6501 to 6522, incl.), the secretary, in consultation with the Organic Food Advisory Board, shall adopt regulations listing specific substances that are in compliance or not in compliance with the definition of “prohibited materials,” as defined in subdivision (p) of Section 110815 of the Health and Safety Code, for use in the production and handling of
organic foods.
Prior to the promulgation of the national materials list by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, the Organic Food Advisory Board, in consultation with the secretary, shall determine which, if any, substance may be allowed for use in the production and handling of organic foods in this state. Within 90 days of promulgation of the national materials list by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Organic Food Advisory Board, in consultation with the secretary, shall determine which, if any, substance allowed for use by the national materials list may be allowed for use in the production and handling of organic foods in this state.
(b) Prior to adoption of these regulations, the secretary shall issue administratively a preliminary, nonexhaustive list of materials that are in compliance or not in compliance with
subdivision (p) of Section 110815 of the Health and Safety Code based on the listings of permitted materials published by California Certified Organic Farmers, the Organic Trade Association, and the Departments of Agriculture of the States of Oregon and Washington.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 609, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2000.)
(a) Any person may file a complaint with the director concerning suspected noncompliance with this chapter or Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code by a person under the enforcement jurisdiction of the director, as provided in Section 46000.
(b) The director shall, to the extent funds are available, establish procedures for handling complaints, including provision of a written complaint form, and
procedures for commencing an investigation within three working days after receiving a complaint regarding fresh food, and within seven working days for other food, and completing an investigation and reporting findings and enforcement action taken, if any, to the complainant within 60 days thereafter.
(c) The director may establish minimum information requirements to determine the verifiability of a complaint, and may provide for rejection of a complaint that does not meet the requirements. The director shall provide written notice of the reasons for rejection to the person filing the complaint.
(d) The director shall carry out the functions and objectives of this chapter and Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, to the extent funds are available for those purposes.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 69. Effective September 29, 1996.)
Unless defined pursuant to the National Organic Program (NOP), the following words and phrases, when used in this act, shall have the following meanings:
(a) “Accredited certification agency” means an entity accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture to certify operations as compliant with the federal organic standards.
(b) “Act” means the California Organic Food and Farming Act. It also means the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.) and the regulations adopted pursuant to the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.).
(c) “Categorical products” means categories of products
of like commodity, such as apples, salad products, etc., and does not require variety-specific information.
(d) “Certified operation” means a producer, handler, or retail food establishment that is certified organic by an accredited certification agency, as authorized by the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.) and implemented pursuant to the National Organic Program.
(e) “Data” means the information provided annually by persons registered under the act, including certified organic acreage and gross sales of certified organic products.
(f) “Department” means the State Department of Public Health.
(g) “Director” means the director and State Public Health Officer for the State Department of Public Health.
(h) “Enforcement authority” means the governmental unit with primary enforcement jurisdiction, as provided in Section 46008.
(i) “Exempt handler” means a handling operation that sells agricultural products as “organic” but whose gross agricultural income from organic sales totals five thousand dollars ($5,000) or less annually.
(j) “Exempt operation” means a production or handling operation that sells agricultural products but is exempt from certification under federal organic standards.
(k) “Exempt producer” means a production operation that sells agricultural products as “organic” but whose gross agricultural income from organic sales totals five thousand dollars ($5,000) or less annually.
(l) “Federal organic standards” means the federal regulations governing production, labeling, and marketing of organic products as authorized by the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.) and implemented pursuant to the National Organic Program (7 C.F.R. Sec. 205.1 et seq.), and any amendments to the federal act or regulations made subsequent to the enactment of this chapter.
(m) “Handle” means to sell, process, or package agricultural products.
(n) “Handler” means any person engaged in the business of handling agricultural products, but does not include final retailers of agricultural products that do not process agricultural products.
(o) “Handling operation” means any operation or portion of an operation, except final retailers of agricultural products that do not
process agricultural products, that (1) receives or otherwise acquires agricultural products, and (2) processes, packages, or stores agricultural products.
(p) “Inspection” means the act of examining and evaluating production or handling operation to determine compliance with state and federal law.
(q) “National Organic Program” or “NOP” means the National Organic Program established pursuant to the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.) and the regulations adopted for implementation.
(r) “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, trust, corporation, limited liability company, company, estate, public or private institution, association, organization, group, city, county, city and county, political subdivision of this state, other governmental agency within the state, and any
representative, agent, or agency of any of the foregoing.
(s) “Processing” means cooking, baking, heating, drying, mixing, grinding, churning, separating, extracting, cutting, fermenting, eviscerating, preserving, dehydrating, freezing, or otherwise manufacturing, and includes packaging, canning, jarring, or otherwise enclosing food in a container.
(t) “Producer” means a person who engages in the business of growing or producing food, fiber, feed, and other agricultural-based consumer products.
(u) “Prohibited substance” means a substance the use of which in any aspect of organic production or handling is prohibited or not provided for in state or federal law.
(v) “Residue testing” means an official or validated analytical procedure that detects,
identifies, and measures the presence of chemical substances, their metabolites, or degradation products in or on raw or processed agricultural products.
(w) “Retail food establishment” means a restaurant, delicatessen, bakery, grocery store, or any retail outlet with an in-store restaurant, delicatessen, bakery, salad bar, or other eat-in or carry-out service of processed or prepared raw and ready-to-eat food.
(x) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
(y) “State Organic Program” or “SOP” means a state program that meets the requirements of Section 6506 of the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.), is approved by the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, and is designed to ensure that a product that is sold or labeled as organically produced
under the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.) is produced and handled using organic methods.
(z) “USDA” means the United States Department of Agriculture.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 561, Sec. 62. (AB 1516) Effective January 1, 2018.)
This act shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of law that is inconsistent with this act. Nothing in this act is intended to repeal any other provision of law not inconsistent with this act.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 7.5. Effective January 1, 2003.)
At the request of a county agricultural commissioner, the district attorney for that county may bring an action to enforce this chapter or Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, within the enforcement jurisdiction of that commissioner.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 71. Effective September 29, 1996.)
(a) Any penalties collected by the secretary and any fees collected by a county agricultural commissioner pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be expended solely to fulfill the responsibilities authorized under this chapter.
(b) Any fees and penalties collected by a county agricultural commissioner pursuant to Section 46017 and any other penalties collected by a county agricultural commissioner pursuant to this chapter shall be paid directly to the county agricultural commissioner and expended to fulfill the responsibilities of the county agricultural commissioner, as specified in
this chapter.
(c) The secretary shall establish a specific minimum amount to be reimbursed to each county agricultural commissioner per registrant in that county. This reimbursement shall not limit the amount of the reimbursement otherwise made to county commissioners for their enforcement activities.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 8. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
(a) Article 14 (commencing with Section 43031) of Chapter 2 of the Food and Agricultural Code applies to any product that is represented as organically produced by any person who is not registered as required by this chapter or any product that is not in compliance with this chapter or the NOP.
(b) The secretary, county agricultural commissioners, and the State Director of Health Services shall be considered enforcing officers for purposes of those provisions of law under their
respective jurisdiction.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2003.)
Any person subject to this act that does not pay the registration fee within 10 days of the date on which the fee is due and payable shall pay a penalty of 10 percent of the total amount determined to be due plus interest at the rate of 1.5 percent per month on the unpaid balance.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 393, Sec. 7. (AB 2612) Effective January 1, 2011.)
This chapter shall be interpreted in conjunction with Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 75. Effective September 29, 1996.)
(a) No fee established and collected pursuant to this chapter shall exceed the secretary’s costs or the county agricultural commissioner’s costs, as the case may be, of regulating and enforcing the provisions of this chapter related to the function for which the fee is established.
(b) The fees established and collected pursuant to this chapter may be expended, under the advisement of the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, for activities authorized under this chapter, including assisting operations in achieving certification, conducting education and outreach, entering research and development partnerships, and addressing production or marketing obstacles to the growth
of the organic sector.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 9. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
This act shall not apply to the term “natural” when used in the labeling or advertising of a product.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 12.5. Effective January 1, 2003.)
Article 14 (commencing with Section 43031) of Chapter 2 applies to any food product that is represented as organically produced by any person who is not registered as required by this chapter or any product that is not in compliance with this chapter or Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code. The secretary, agricultural commissioners, and the director shall be considered enforcing officers for purposes of those provisions of law under their respective jurisdiction.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 10. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
Any producer, handler, processor, or registered certification organization subject to this chapter that does not pay the fee within 10 days of the date on which the fee is due and payable shall pay a penalty of 10 percent of the total amount determined to be due plus interest at the rate of 1.5 percent per month on the unpaid balance.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 393, Sec. 8. (AB 2612) Effective January 1, 2011.)
(a) Every person engaged in this state in the production or handling of raw agricultural products sold as organic shall register with the secretary before the first sale of the product. All processors of organic agriculturally derived products that are not required to be registered as outlined in subdivision (b) shall register with the secretary. Each registrant shall annually renew the registration with the secretary unless no longer engaged in the activities requiring the registration.
(b) Every person engaged in this state in the processing or handling of processed products pursuant to Section 110460 of the Health and Safety Code, and pet food pursuant to Section 18653, and cosmetics pursuant to Section 111795 of the
Health and Safety Code, including processors of alcoholic beverages, fish, and seafood, shall register with the State Public Health Officer.
(c) Registration pursuant to this section shall be on a form either provided by the secretary or approved by the secretary and shall be valid for a period of one calendar year from the date of validation by the secretary of the completed registration form or for a period determined by the secretary to promote coordination with organic certification applications and renewals, organic certification cost share programs, and other state program registration.
(d) The information provided on the registration form shall include all of the following:
(1) The nature of the registrant’s business, including the categorical products produced, handled, or processed that are sold as organic.
For the purposes of registration, organic products shall be reported in accordance with the following specified categories unless the secretary, in consultation with the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, establishes different categories:
(A) Citrus.
(B) Fruits, excluding citrus.
(C) Livestock or dairy.
(D) Nuts.
(E) Vegetables.
(F) Other, which includes, but is not limited to, apiculture, organic fallow ground, herbs, mushrooms, cut flowers, and nursery.
(2) The address or assessor’s parcel number of the precise location or locations where the
products are produced, processed, or handled.
(3) Sufficient information, under penalty of perjury, to enable the secretary to verify the amount of the registration fee to be paid in accordance with this act.
(4) The names of all certification organizations or governmental entities, if any, providing organic certification to them.
(e) (1) A registration form shall be accompanied by payment of a nonrefundable registration fee by producers, handlers, and processors, which shall be based on total gross sales by the registrant of product sold as organic in the calendar year that precedes the date of registration or, if no sales were made in the preceding year, then based on the expected sales during the 12 calendar months following the date of registration in accordance with the following fee
schedule. The secretary, in consultation with the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, may lower the amounts specified in the following fee schedule by regulation.
| Gross Sales | Registration Fee |
$ | 0– | 4,999 | $ | 25 |
$ | 5,000– | 10,000 | $ | 50 |
$ | 10,001– | 50,000 | $ | 75 |
$ | 50,001– | 250,000 | $ | 100 |
$ | 250,001– | 500,000 | $ | 450 |
$ | 500,001– | 1,000,000 | $ | 750 |
$ | 1,000,001– | 2,500,000 | $ | 1,000 |
$ | 2,500,001– | 5,000,000 | $ | 1,500 |
$ | 5,000,001– | 15,000,000 | $ | 2,000 |
$ | 15,000,001– | 25,000,000 | $ | 2,500 |
$ | 25,000,001– | and above | $ | 3,000 |
(2) Producers that sell processed product shall pay fees based on the value of raw product before being processed and the value of any product sold as unprocessed.
(3) Any person that packs, repacks, labels, sorts, or otherwise handles any organic product that is outside the jurisdiction of the State Public Health Officer and that does not take title or manage the sale of the product, but provides only handling services for organic product, shall register and pay one hundred dollars ($100) per year.
(4) Any person that provides
temporary storage or transportation for organic product and does not handle the raw unpackaged product does not have to register.
(5) Any person required to register pursuant to this section that fits the description of more than one of the persons described above shall pay the greater of the multiple amounts.
(6) The secretary may require any producer, handler, processor, or other organic registrant to provide the exact dollar amount of gross sales of twenty-five million one dollars ($25,000,001) or more in lieu of the range specified in paragraph (1).
(f) The secretary may adopt regulations that supersede the terms of this section to the extent reasonably necessary to provide an online system of registration for those required to register pursuant to this section.
(g) The adoption, amendment, or repeal of any fee pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. An order to adopt, amend, or repeal the regulations concerning assessment rates pursuant to this section shall be transmitted within 30 days by the secretary to the Office of Administrative Law. The Office of Administrative Law shall file the order promptly with the Secretary of State without further review pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 11349) of Chapter 3.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The order shall do all of the following:
(1) Indicate that the regulations are being adopted, amended, or repealed pursuant to this chapter.
(2) State that the order is being transmitted for filing.
(3) Request that the Office of Administrative Law publish a notice of the filing of the order and print an appropriate reference in Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 11. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
(a) To the extent feasible, the secretary, in consultation with the director, shall coordinate the registration and annual fee collection procedures of this section with similar licensing or registration procedures applicable to registrants.
(b) The secretary shall deny a registration submission that is incomplete or not in compliance with this act.
(c) A registrant shall, within a reasonable time, notify the secretary of any change in the information reported on the registration form and shall pay any additional fee owed if that change results in a higher fee owed than that previously paid.
(d) (1) At the request of any person, the secretary or county agricultural commissioner shall provide the following:
(A) The name and address of the registrant.
(B) The nature of the registrant’s business.
(C) The names of all certification organizations or governmental entities, if any, providing certification pursuant to the NOP and this act.
(2) The secretary or county agricultural commissioner may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of reproducing this information. Except as provided in this subdivision, a registration form is exempt from Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code.
(e) The secretary, in consultation with the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, may suspend the registration program set forth in this section if the secretary determines that income derived from registration fees is insufficient to support a registration enforcement program.
(f) A registration is considered legal and valid until revoked, suspended, or until the expiration of the registration.
(g) The registration revocation process shall be in conjunction with other provisions of this act. The secretary or county agricultural commissioner’s office may initiate the revocation process for failure to comply with the NOP or this act. Any person against whom the action is being taken shall have the opportunity to
appeal the action and be afforded the opportunity to be heard in an administrative appeal. This appeal shall be administered by either the state or county agricultural commissioner’s office.
(h) If the registration fee is not paid within 60 days from the expiration date, the account shall be considered closed and the registration voided. A notification shall be sent to the registrant and the certifier, if applicable, notifying them the registrant is no longer able to market products as organic until the account is paid in full.
(i) Any producer, handler, processor, or certification agency subject to this chapter that does not pay the fee within 10 days of the date on which the fee is due and payable shall pay a penalty of 10 percent of the total amount determined to be due plus interest at
the rate of 1.5 percent per month on the unpaid balance.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 126. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)
This chapter also applies to seed, fiber, and horticultural products. The terms “foods” and “raw agricultural commodities” as used in this chapter, and in Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, include seed, fiber, and horticultural products where the context requires to effectuate this section.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 77. Effective September 29, 1996.)
(a) Any certification agency that certifies products in this state sold as organic shall register with the secretary and shall thereafter annually renew the registration, unless the organization is no longer engaged in the activities requiring the registration. Registration shall be on a form provided by the secretary and shall include a copy of accreditation by the USDA or proof of application, if applicable.
(b) Each certification agency shall pay to the secretary an annual registration fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) for each client they have certified in this state up to a maximum of five hundred dollars ($500). Any registration submitted by a certification agency shall be
made available to the public for inspection and copying. The secretary may audit the agency’s certification procedures and records at any time, but any records of the certification agency not otherwise required to be disclosed shall be kept confidential by the secretary.
(c) An accredited certifying agency may submit an annual registration fee and application on behalf of their client provided that all of the information required under Section 46013.1 is included when remitting applicable fees to the secretary.
(d) The secretary and the county agricultural commissioners under the supervision of the secretary shall, if requested by a sufficient number of persons to cover the costs of the program in a county as determined by the secretary, establish a certification program.
This program shall meet all of the requirements of this act. In addition, this program shall meet all of the requirements of the federal certification program, including federal accreditation. The secretary shall establish a fee schedule for participants in this program that covers all of the secretary’s reasonable costs of the program. A county agricultural commissioner that conducts a voluntary certification program pursuant to this section shall establish a fee schedule for participants in this program that covers all of the county’s reasonable costs of the program. The secretary shall not expend funds obtained from registration fees collected under this chapter for the purposes of adopting or administering this program. The certification fee authorized by this subdivision is due and payable on January 1 or may be prorated before the 10th day of the month following the month in which the decision to
grant the certification is issued. Any person who does not pay the amount that is due within the required period shall pay the enforcement authority providing the certificate a penalty of 10 percent of the total amount determined to be due, plus interest at the rate of 1.5 percent per month on the unpaid balance.
(e) Notwithstanding any other law, any certification agency that certifies products in this state sold as organic shall immediately make the following records available for inspection by, and shall upon request within three business days of the request, or within a reasonable time exceeding three business days as determined by the secretary, provide a copy to, the secretary or county agricultural commissioner:
(1) Records obtained from applicants for certification and certified
operations.
(2) Records created by the certifying agent regarding applicants for certification and certified operations.
(3) Any record required to be kept under the National Organic Program (Section 6517 of the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.) and 7 C.F.R. 205 et seq.), Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, and this act applicable to any person selling products as organic.
(f) Records acquired pursuant to this section shall not be public records as that term is defined in Section 7920.530 of the Government Code and shall not be subject to Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of
the Government Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 127. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)
(a) All products sold as organic in California shall be certified by an accredited certifying agent if they are required to be certified under the federal act.
(b) Product shall be sold as organic only in accordance with this act.
(c) A certification agency shall be accredited by the USDA as provided in the NOP.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 14. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
A registered certification agency shall submit to the secretary every January and June a list of all persons whose production or processing of product in California is certified. The list shall be publicly available within 30 days after the end of each filing period. A certifier that keeps a current list on an Internet Web site available to the public may be deemed to meet this requirement.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 15. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
Only products that have been produced and handled in accordance with this act may be certified by a registered certification agency.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 16. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
Materials acceptable in this state are those outlined in Sections 205.600 to 205.607, inclusive, of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 21.5. Effective January 1, 2003.)
(a) Any person may file a complaint with the secretary concerning suspected noncompliance with this act, as provided in Section 46000 or regulations adopted by the NOP.
(b) The secretary shall, to the extent funds are available, establish procedures for handling complaints, including provision of a written complaint form, and procedures for commencing an investigation within three working days after receiving a complaint regarding fresh food, and within seven working days for
other products, and completing an investigation and reporting findings and enforcement action taken, if any, to the complainant within 60 days thereafter.
(c) The secretary may establish minimum information requirements to determine the verifiability of a complaint, and may provide for rejection of a complaint that does not meet the requirements. The secretary shall provide written notice of the reasons for rejection to the person filing the complaint.
(d) The secretary shall carry out the functions and objectives of this act to the extent funds are available for those purposes.
(e) The complaint process in this state must also meet all the complaint process outlined in regulations adopted by the NOP.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 22. Effective January 1, 2003.)
(a) Any county agricultural commissioner may, at any time, initiate a notice and hearing process to determine whether a violation of these provisions has occurred. The hearing process to determine if a violation has occurred may include a review of the actions or records of:
(1) The organic registrant.
(2) A family member, employee, or any other person authorized to act on behalf of the registrant.
(3) Any other person whose actions may have resulted in the violation.
(b) The notice of hearing shall be on a form approved by the secretary and may contain:
(1) The reasons why the hearing is being held.
(2) A warning that failure to participate may result in other adverse actions or may be considered to be admission to a possible violation.
(3) A hearing date, time, and location of the hearing.
(4) The secretary or county agricultural commissioner may, upon determination that a violation has been made in accordance with subdivision (a) above, take any corrective action as specified in this act.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 23. Effective January 1, 2003.)
Any person may appeal to the secretary for a hearing if aggrieved by any one of the following actions or decisions:
(a) Denial of any registration.
(b) Revocation of any registration.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 24. Effective January 1, 2003.)
The appeal shall be submitted to the secretary in writing within 30 days of the date of the action or the letter proposing the action. The secretary’s proceeding shall, insofar as practicable, comply with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, except that a Department of Food and Agriculture hearing officer may be used.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 17. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
As provided for in regulations adopted by the NOP, the action proposed by an NOP accredited certification agency against a client may be appealed to the secretary for mediation.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 18. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
(a) In lieu of prosecution, the secretary or a county agricultural commissioner may levy a civil penalty against any person under the enforcement jurisdiction of the secretary as provided in Section 46000 who violates this act, or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto or pursuant to this chapter, or regulations adopted by the NOP, in an amount not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation. The amount of the penalty assessed for each violation shall be based upon the nature of the violation, the seriousness of the effect of the violation upon effectuation of the purposes and provisions of this chapter and the impact of the penalty on the violator, including the deterrent effect on future violations.
(b) Notwithstanding the penalties prescribed in subdivision (a), if the secretary or county agricultural commissioner finds that a violation was not intentional, the secretary or county agricultural commissioner may levy a civil penalty of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation.
(c) For a first offense, in lieu of a civil penalty as prescribed in subdivision (a) or (b), the secretary or county agricultural commissioner may issue a notice of violation if he or she finds that the violation is minor.
(d) A person against whom a civil penalty is proposed shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing before the secretary or county agricultural commissioner, upon request made in writing within 30 days after the issuance of the notice of penalty. At the hearing, the person shall be given
the right to review the secretary’s or commissioner’s evidence of the violation and the right to present evidence on his or her own behalf. If no hearing is requested, the civil penalty shall constitute a final and nonreviewable order.
(e) If a hearing is held, review of the final decision of the secretary or county agricultural commissioner may be requested in writing by any person, pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure within 30 days of the date of the final order of the secretary or county agricultural commissioner.
(f) A civil penalty levied by the secretary pursuant to this section may be recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the state. A civil penalty levied by a county agricultural commissioner pursuant to this section may be recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the county. After the exhaustion of the review procedures provided
in this section, a county agricultural commissioner, or his or her representative, may file a certified copy of a final decision of the commissioner that directs the payment of a civil penalty and, if applicable, a copy of any order that denies a petition for a writ of administrative mandamus with the clerk of the superior court of any county. Judgment shall be entered immediately by the clerk in conformity with the decision or order. Pursuant to Section 6103 of the Government Code, no fees shall be charged by the clerk of the superior court for the performance of any official service required in connection with the entry of judgment pursuant to this section.
(g) The secretary shall maintain in a central location, and make
publicly available for inspection and copying upon request, a list of all civil penalties levied by the secretary and by each county agricultural commissioner within the past five years, including the amount of each penalty, the person against whom the penalty was levied, and the nature of the violation. Copies of this list shall also be available by mail, upon written request and payment of a reasonable fee, as set by the secretary.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 395, Sec. 1. (AB 2686) Effective January 1, 2011.)
The secretary and the county agricultural commissioners may conduct a program of spot inspections to determine compliance with this act.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 28. Effective January 1, 2003.)
At the request of a county agricultural commissioner, the district attorney for that county may bring an action to enforce this act and the NOP within the enforcement jurisdiction of that commissioner.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 29. Effective January 1, 2003.)
(a) It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, advertise, or label any product in violation of this act.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person engaged in business as a handler, distributor, or retailer of food who in good faith sells, offers for sale, labels, or advertises any product in reliance on the representations of a producer, processor, or other distributor that the product may be sold as organic, shall not be found to violate this act unless the
distributor either:
(1) Knew or should have known that the product could not be sold as organic.
(2) Was engaged in producing or processing the product.
(3) Prescribed or specified the manner in which the product was produced or processed.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 30. Effective January 1, 2003.)
(a) It is unlawful for any person to certify any product in violation of this act.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to certify a product or company as organic unless duly registered as a certification agency pursuant to this act.
(c) It is unlawful for any person to willfully make a false statement or representation, or knowingly fail to disclose a fact required to be disclosed, in registration for a certification agency pursuant to this act.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 19. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
(a) It is unlawful for any person to produce or handle any product sold as organic unless duly registered pursuant to Section 46013.1.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to willfully make a false statement or representation, or knowingly fail to disclose a fact required to be disclosed, in registration pursuant to Section 46013.1.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 32. Effective January 1, 2003.)
It is unlawful for any person to forge, falsify, fail to retain, fail to obtain, or fail to disclose records pursuant to Section 46028.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 33. Effective January 1, 2003.)
(a) It is unlawful for any person to advertise, label, or otherwise represent that any fertilizer or pesticide chemical may be used in connection with the production, processing, or distribution of products sold as organic if that fertilizer or pesticide chemical contains a prohibited material.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to refuse to submit for inspection.
(c) It is unlawful for any person to mislabel any
organic product.
(d) It is unlawful for any person to alter any organic registration form.
(e) It is unlawful for any person to alter any certification document.
(f) It is unlawful for any person to falsify any document.
(g) It is unlawful for any person to remove a hold off sale or disposal order from any lot of product.
(h) It is unlawful to use the term “transitional organic” in this state.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 34. Effective January 1, 2003.)
(a) No food or product may be advertised or labeled as “organic when available” or similar terminology that leaves in doubt whether the food is being sold as organic.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 533, Sec. 35. Effective January 1, 2003.)
All persons who produce, handle, or retail products that are sold as organic shall keep accurate and specific records as required by the secretary in consultation with the California Organic Products Advisory Committee.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 20. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any producer, handler, processor, or retailer of products sold as organic shall immediately make available for inspection by, and shall upon request, within 72 hours of the request, provide a copy to, the secretary, the Attorney General, any prosecuting attorney, any governmental agency responsible for enforcing laws related to the production or handling of products sold as organic, of any record required to be kept under this section for purposes of carrying out this act. Records acquired pursuant to this act shall not be public records as that term is defined in Section 7920.530 of the Government Code and shall not be subject to Division 10 (commencing with
Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code.
(b) Upon written request of any person that establishes cause for the request, the secretary shall obtain and provide to the requesting party within 10 working days of the request a copy of any of the following records required to be kept under this act that pertain to a specific product sold or offered for sale, and that identify substances applied, administered, or added to that product, except that financial information about an operation or transaction, information regarding the quantity of a substance administered or applied, the date of each administration or application, information regarding the identity of suppliers or customers, and the quantity or price of supplies purchased or products sold shall be removed before disclosure and shall not be released to any person other than persons
and agencies authorized to acquire records under subdivision (a):
(1) Records of a producer, as described in Section 46028.
(2) Records of a handler, as described in Section 46028, records of previous handlers, if any, and producers as described in Section 46028 without identifying the previous handlers or producers, and, if applicable, records obtained as required in this act.
(3) (A) Records of a retailer, as described in Section 46028, records of previous handlers, if any, and producers as described in Section 46028 without identifying the previous processors, handlers, or producers, and, if applicable, records obtained as required in subdivision (d). This subdivision shall be the exclusive means
of public access to records required to be kept by producers, processors, handlers, and retailers under this act.
(B) A person required to provide records pursuant to a request under this subdivision, may petition the secretary to deny the request based on a finding that the request is of a frivolous or harassing nature. The secretary may, upon the issuance of this finding, waive the information production requirements of this subdivision for the specific request for information that was the subject of the petition.
(c) Information specified in subdivision (b) that is required to be released upon request shall not be considered a “trade secret” under Section 110165, Section 1060 of the Evidence Code, or the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Title 5 (commencing with Section 3426) of Part 1 of
Division 4 of the Civil Code).
(d) The secretary may charge the person requesting records a reasonable fee to reimburse the secretary or the source of the records for the cost of reproducing the records requested.
(e) The secretary shall not be required to obtain records not in the secretary’s possession in response to a subpoena. Prior to releasing records required to be kept pursuant to this act in response to a subpoena, the secretary shall delete any information regarding the identity of suppliers or customers and the quantity or price of supplies purchased or products sold.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 128. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)