55040-55047
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE
SECTION 55040-55047
55040. The powers and duties of the committee shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (a) Identifying rices that have characteristics of commercial impact. (b) Recommending to the secretary proposed regulations establishing terms and conditions for planting, producing, processing, or handling rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a), including, but not limited to, seed application requirements, field buffer zones, handling requirements, seed testing, and identity preservation requirements. All rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be subject to an identity preservation program. (c) Reviewing the efficacy of terms, conditions, and identity preservation programs imposed on the planting, producing, processing, or handling of rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) using the most current industry standards and generally accepted scientific principles. (d) Recommending to the secretary on all matters pertaining to this chapter, including, but not limited to, the amendment or repeal of regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, enforcement of this chapter, and setting the assessment rates. (e) The committee shall review each rice identified as having characteristics of commercial impact not less often than every two years, or upon receipt of a petition from a handler of rice. A handler of rice identified as having characteristics of commercial impact may not file more than one petition on a particular variety of rice in any two-year period. (f) Neither the recommendations of the committee nor any regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be construed as establishing any production, processing, or market tolerance. 55047. The committee shall recommend to the secretary that regulations be adopted, amended, or repealed by the secretary to accomplish all of the following purposes: (a) Maintain the integrity and prevent the contamination of rice which has not been identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 55040. (b) Prevent the introduction of diseases, weeds, or other pests. (c) Ensure that persons handling seed for the production of rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 55040, or that persons bringing rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 55040 into the state for processing, notify the commission of the location of planting sites and of the dates and procedures for planting, producing, processing, or handling of rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 55040. (d) Ensure that persons receiving rice having been identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 55040 produced outside the state for processing notify the commission of the location of the receipt and of the procedures for processing or handling the rice to prevent commercial impact to other rice and the spread of weeds, diseases, or other pests. (e) Ensure enforcement of terms and conditions imposed on the planting, processing, or handling of rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 55040. (f) Encourage research and development of new types of rice.