SECTIONS 18970-18977 - California Statutes

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE

SECTION 18970-18977

18970. (a) Prior to the issuance of a license to an establishment
required to be licensed pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with
Section 19010), the establishment shall meet the department's
building and equipment standards.
(b) Building plans and specifications shall be submitted to the
director for approval prior to any intended construction or major
reconstruction for any establishment licensed pursuant to Article 8
(commencing with Section 19010).

18971. The director shall investigate the sanitary conditions of
each establishment required to be licensed pursuant to Article 8
(commencing with Section 19010) and shall withdraw or otherwise
refuse to provide inspection services at any establishment where the
sanitary conditions are such as to render adulterated or permit
adulteration of any livestock product or poultry product which is
prepared or handled at such establishment. No such establishment
shall be operated without inspection.

18972. The director may inspect, reinspect, or order the
reinspection of any livestock or poultry product which is
slaughtered, processed, or stored in an establishment licensed
pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 19010).

18973. (a) Licensed livestock meat inspectors, licensed processing
inspectors, and department inspectors are authorized to supervise the
operations of licensed establishments, to order the establishments
not to operate until required standards are met, and to cease
operations when the standards are violated. These persons are also
authorized to require withholding from movement, sale, or the
delivery of products that may be unfit, because the products were
derived from unfit animals or processed in unsanitary conditions and
to require denaturing and condemnation of the unfit products.
(b) The department may immediately withdraw or refuse to provide
inspection services to any establishment under this chapter that
fails to cease operations, hold any retained product, or destroy any
condemned product in accordance with the order of a department
inspector or licensed livestock meat inspector or licensed processing
inspector. It is unlawful to violate any such order.

18974. The director may order any labeling or containers to be
withheld from use if he or she determines that the labeling is false
or misleading or the containers are of a misleading size or form.

18975. If an action of a livestock meat inspector, licensed
processing inspector, or department inspector in condemning any
livestock or poultry product is questioned, appeal by the licensed
establishment operator may be made to the immediate supervisor of the
inspector and from his or her decision appeal may be made to the
Chief of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Branch. The operator shall
abide by the decision of the inspector until or unless the decision
is modified by the supervisor or the chief.

18976. If slaughtering, carcass preparation, or processing of any
meat, meat products, poultry, or poultry products, or training of
licensed livestock meat inspectors or licensed processing inspectors
is conducted in an establishment licensed under Article 8 (commencing
with Section 19010) during hours considered overtime for state
employees or on legal holidays, the owner or operator of the
establishment, by contract or agreement with the department, shall
pay the additional costs for salaries and expenses for persons
employed by the department, as determined by the department, to
conduct the necessary inspection work or training during the overtime
period.

18977. The director may require a deposit to pay for the overtime
charges which he or she shall deposit in the General Fund, and may
refuse inspection if the deposit is not made in a timely fashion. The
director shall withdraw inspection services at any establishment
licensed under Article 8 (commencing with Section 19010) that does
not pay the overtime charges 15 days after the mailing of an invoice
therefor.