SECTIONS 64531-64534 - California Statutes

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE

SECTION 64531-64534

64531. It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative
determination, that the provisions of this chapter are enacted in the
exercise of the power of this state for the purposes of protecting
and furthering the public health and welfare. It is further declared
that the cattle industry of this state is affected with a public
interest, in that, among other things:
(a) The production, processing, manufacture, and distribution of
beef and beef products constitute a paramount industry of this state
which not only provides substantial and required revenues for the
state and its political subdivisions, and employment and a means of
livelihood for many thousands of its population, but also furnishes
essential foods that are vital to the public health and welfare.
(b) The stabilization, maintenance, and expansion of the cattle
industry of California, and of the state, nationwide, and foreign
markets for its products are necessary to assure the consuming public
an adequate supply of foods which are indispensable in a proper
human diet, to protect, for the state and its political subdivisions,
a necessary source of tax revenue, to provide and maintain an
adequate standard of living for a great segment of the population of
this state, to maintain proper wage scales for those engaged in the
cattle industry, and to maintain existing employment.
(c) The essentiality of beef and beef products in a proper human
nutrition and to the maintenance of a high level of public health is
such as to require that the public be made thoroughly aware thereof,
and be protected against misrepresentation and deception, by the
dissemination of accurate and scientific information relative to the
healthful qualities of beef and beef products, their various
classifications and the food values and industrial and medicinal uses
thereof, the methods, care and precautions necessary to their proper
production, processing, manufacture, and distribution, and the
necessary costs and expenses thereof, and the necessity and
desirability on the part of the public of using and consuming beef
and beef products of the highest standards of quality.

64532. The purposes of this chapter are as follows:
(a) To enable the cattle industry, with the aid of the state, to
develop, maintain, and expand the state, nationwide, and foreign
markets for beef and beef products produced, processed, manufactured,
sold, or distributed in this state, for human consumption, and the
use and consumption of these beef and beef products in those markets.
(b) In aid, but not in limitation, of the purpose in subdivision
(a), to authorize and enable the director to formulate and
effectuate, directly or in cooperation with other agencies and
instrumentalities which are specified in this chapter, research
relating to the nutritional qualities of beef and beef products and
public consumption patterns and trends, and sales stimulation and
consumer, or other, educational programs designed to increase the use
and consumption of beef and beef products for human consumption.
(c) To provide funds for the administration and enforcement of
this chapter by mandatory fees to be collected in the manner which is
prescribed in this chapter, unless producers elect to provide those
funds through voluntary contributions pursuant to Article 7
(commencing with Section 64671).

64533. This chapter shall be liberally construed. If any section,
sentence, clause, or part of this chapter is, for any reason, held to
be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision does not affect the
remaining portion of this chapter but such unconstitutional or
invalid provision is separable from the valid parts of this chapter.

64534. Any violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor.