SECTIONS 14651-14661 - California Statutes

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE

SECTION 14651-14661

14651. (a) Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, any
violation of this chapter, or the regulations adopted pursuant to
this chapter, is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than
one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the first violation and not less
than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each subsequent violation.
(b) The secretary may, after hearing, refuse to issue or renew, or
may suspend or revoke, a license or registration for any violation
of this chapter or any regulation that is adopted pursuant to this
chapter.
(c) Upon calling a hearing, the secretary shall hand deliver or
mail a notice of the hearing to the licensee or registrant specifying
the time and place of the hearing at least 10 days prior to the
hearing. The hearing officer may do any of the following:
(1) Administer oaths and take testimony.
(2) Issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of the licensee,
registrant, or witnesses, together with books, records, memorandums,
papers, and all other documents that may be pertinent to the case.
(3) Compel from the licensee or registrant and any witness the
disclosure of all facts known to him or her regarding the case. In no
instance shall any employee of Feed, Fertilizer, Livestock Drugs and
Egg Regulatory Services serve as the hearing officer in any hearing
conducted pursuant to this section.
(d) Any person who is denied a license, whose license is not
renewed, or whose license is suspended or revoked pursuant to this
section may appeal to the secretary.

14651.5. (a) The department shall levy a civil penalty against any
person who violates this chapter in an amount of 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
the 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) Upon a finding that the violation is minor or unintentional,
in lieu of a civil penalty, the secretary may issue a notice of
warning.
(c) A person against whom a civil penalty is levied shall be
afforded an opportunity for a hearing before the secretary, upon a
request made within 30 days after the date of issuance of the notice
of penalty. At the hearing, the person shall be given 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.
(d) If a hearing is held, review of the decision of the secretary
may be sought by the person against whom the civil penalty is levied
within 30 days of the date of the final order of the secretary
pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(e) A civil penalty levied by the department pursuant to this
section may be recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the
state.

14652. (a) It is unlawful for any person to manufacture or
distribute in this state any fertilizing material without complying
with this chapter or the regulations adopted pursuant to this
chapter.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to adulterate, misbrand, or
alter any fertilizing material with the result that the fertilizing
material would be inconsistent with the label claims. Any violation
of this subdivision is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine as follows:
(1) Not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the first
violation that is not a knowing violation.
(2) Not more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for each
subsequent unknowing violation.
(3) Not less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for each
knowing violation.
(c) Any person found in violation of subdivision (b) of this
section or subdivision (e) of Section 14682 may also be prohibited by
the secretary from obtaining a license to sell organic input
materials for three years.

14653. The secretary may seize and hold any lot of fertilizing
material which he or she has reasonable cause to believe is in
violation of this chapter or the regulations adopted pursuant to this
chapter.

14654. If the secretary seizes any lot of fertilizing material, he
or she shall immediately issue a hold order to the person that has
control of that material. The secretary may affix to that lot or
package of the material a warning tag which states that the lot is
subject to a hold order.

14655. (a) Any lot of fertilizing material for which a hold order
or notice is issued shall be held by the person having control of the
material and shall not be distributed or moved except under the
specific directions of the secretary, pending final disposition
pursuant to this chapter. This does not prevent the person who has
control of the material from inspecting any seized material or from
taking a reasonable sample for evidence while in the presence of a
person designated by the secretary.
(b) The movement, distribution, or sale of all or part of any
product by the person having control of the material that has been
quarantined by the secretary, unless the movement, distribution, or
sale has the prior approval of the secretary, is a violation subject
to a civil penalty as specified in Section 14651.5, or a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
A second or subsequent violation of this subdivision is a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than ten thousand
dollars ($10,000).

14656. Upon demand of the person who has control of the seized
fertilizing material, and within 10 days of sampling by the
secretary, a subsample shall be returned from the state laboratory to
the person in control of the fertilizing material.

14657. If the seized and held lot, as determined by the secretary's
analysis, is not in violation of this chapter, the secretary shall
immediately release the seized and held lot and remove the hold
order.

14658. If the seized and held lot is found to be in violation of
this chapter, the secretary shall take either of the following
actions:
(a) Continue to hold the lot until such time as the requirements
of this chapter have been complied with, at which time the lot shall
be released.
(b) Issue orders for the disposal of the lot in a manner specified
by the secretary.

14659. The person who has control of a seized or held lot that is
found to be in violation of this chapter may appeal the result of the
analysis to the secretary, in writing, within 15 days of receiving
the notice of violation. Upon receipt of that appeal, the secretary
shall take a further sample of the lot in question for analysis. The
cost of sampling and analysis shall be at the expense of the person
who requests the further sample. The findings of the analysis on
appeal shall be conclusive.

14660. The authority for the issuance of citations is limited to
the violations of Sections 14591, 14601, 14631, 14651, and 14655. The
secretary shall adopt procedures for the issuance of citations and
penalties, upon the recommendation of the board. Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of
the Government Code does not apply to the procedures adopted by the
secretary pursuant to this section.

14661. (a) The department shall be entitled to receive
reimbursement from any person who is found in violation of this
chapter for any reasonable attorney's fees and other related costs,
including, but not limited to, investigative costs, involved in
enforcement of this chapter.
(b) The department shall use all funds received pursuant to this
chapter for the purposes of this chapter.