SECTIONS 10610 - California Statutes

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE

SECTION 10610

10610. (a) The Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture
may adopt regulations to control or eradicate cattle diseases,
including bovine trichomoniasis, in any of the following ways:
(1) Requiring permits before entry of, and limitations on the
importation of, cattle and other animals or materials that might act
as a cause or a vector of a disease or condition that is infectious
or contagious to cattle.
(2) Limitations on the intrastate or interstate movement of
cattle, in compliance with any applicable federal law.
(3) Diagnostic tests, vaccinations, treatments, or other
appropriate methods, including, but not limited to, the mandated
reporting by designated parties of diseases or suspected diseases.
(4) Notification of owners of cattle that have been exposed, or
may have been exposed, to infectious animals or materials.
(5) Similar means that the secretary finds and determines are
necessary.
(b) (1) The secretary shall appoint an advisory task force,
including, but not limited to, livestock industry representatives and
university researchers, for the purposes of advising the secretary
on the control and management of cattle health diseases and
evaluating the effectiveness of programs established pursuant to this
chapter. The secretary shall consult with the advisory task force
prior to the adoption of regulations or the imposition of fees by the
secretary.
(2) Members of the advisory task force, or alternate members when
acting as members, may be reimbursed, upon request, for necessary
expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
(c) (1) Any person that willfully and knowingly violates any
regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter is guilty of a
misdemeanor.
(2) The secretary may, at his or her discretion, prosecute civilly
or seek civil penalties, pursuant to Sections 9166 and 9167.
(d) The secretary may impose fees to offset the costs of any
program established pursuant to this section, provided that the total
fees collected do not exceed the actual costs of regulation or
impair the department's responsibilities pursuant to this chapter.
(e) The secretary is authorized to establish accounts within the
Food and Agriculture Fund as necessary to efficiently administer the
department's responsibilities pursuant to this chapter.
(f) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit or
restrict the authority granted to the State Veterinarian in Section
9562.