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Article 6. Renderers of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 9. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 6.

Every person engaged in the business of rendering shall obtain a license from the department for each rendering plant.
Every person engaged in the business of operating a collection center shall obtain a license from the department for each collection center operated.
The application for a license shall be in a form which is prescribed by the director and shall contain the following:
  (a) The name and address of the applicant.
  (b) Where each rendering plant or collection center which he intends to operate is located.
  (c) The experience the applicant has in rendering.
  (d) Such other information as the director may by regulation require.
(a) The department may refuse to issue a license if the department finds that the applicant does not meet one or more of the following requirements:
  (1) The applicant is properly equipped to engage in the business of rendering or operating a collection center. For these purposes, the department shall consult with the rendering industry to determine the equipment that shall be required.
  (2) The applicant has never been convicted of a felony involving adulterated or misbranded food.
  (3) The applicant has not violated this article or Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 19310), or any regulations adopted to implement those provisions.
  (b) A person to whom the department refuses to issue a license may appeal to the department within 20 days of the date of receiving notification of the refusal, in the following manner:
  (1) The appeal shall be in writing and signed by the appellant or his or her authorized agent and shall state the grounds for the appeal.
  (2) A party, at the time of filing the appeal, or within 10 days after filing the appeal, may present written evidence and a written argument to the department.
  (3) The department may grant oral arguments upon application made at the time written arguments are made.
  (4) If an application to present an oral argument is granted, the department shall give written notice of the time and place for the oral argument at least 10 days prior to the date set for the oral argument. This time requirement may be altered by an agreement between the department and the person appealing the refusal to issue the license.
  (5) The department shall decide the appeal on any oral or written arguments, briefs, and evidence that the department receives.
  (6) The department shall render a written decision within 45 days of the date of appeal, or within 15 days of the date of oral arguments. A copy of the department's decision shall be delivered or mailed to the appellant.
  (7) The department may sustain the decision to refuse to issue a license or reverse that decision.
  (8) The appellant may seek a review of the decision of the department pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
In addition to any other records required to be kept pursuant to this chapter, every licensed renderer shall record and keep for 2 years, in connection with the receipt of kitchen grease which is not intended for human food, all of the following information:
  (a) The name, address, and registration number of every transporter of inedible kitchen grease who has delivered that material to the renderer.
  (b) The total amount of inedible kitchen grease purchased in each transaction.
  (c) The date of each transaction.
All records required to be retained pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained for two years at the regular place of business of every renderer and collection center operator licensed pursuant to this article and every transporter registered pursuant to Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 19310). Those records shall be exhibited on demand to any peace officer or authorized employee of the Department of the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Food and Agriculture.
Any peace officer of this state, or any employee of the department, during normal business hours, may inspect any premises maintained by a renderer or collection center operator licensed pursuant to this article or a transporter registered pursuant to Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 19310), and any inedible kitchen grease located on the premises, for the purpose of determining whether that renderer, collection center operator, or transporter is complying with the record maintenance requirements of this article.
(a) The department may suspend or revoke a renderer license or collection center license at any time, if it finds any of the following has occurred:
  (1) The licensee has sold or offered for sale to an unlicensed person, any inedible kitchen grease.
  (2) The licensee has stolen, misappropriated, contaminated, or damaged inedible kitchen grease or containers of inedible kitchen grease.
  (3) The licensee has violated any provision of this article or any regulations adopted to implement this article.
  (4) The licensee has taken possession of inedible kitchen grease from an unregistered transporter or has knowingly taken possession of inedible kitchen grease that has been stolen.
  (b) The licensee may appeal any suspension or revocation decision to the department within 20 days of the date of receiving notification of the suspension or revocation, pursuant to the following procedure:
  (1) The appeal shall be in writing and signed by the appellant or his or her authorized agent and shall state the grounds for the appeal.
  (2) A party, at the time of filing the appeal, or within 10 days after filing the appeal, may present written evidence and a written argument to the department.
  (3) The department may grant oral arguments upon application made at the time written arguments are made.
  (4) If an application to present an oral argument is granted, the department shall give written notice of the time and place for the oral argument at least 10 days prior to the date set for an oral argument. This time requirement may be altered by an agreement between the department and the person appealing the suspension or revocation of the license.
  (5) The department shall decide the appeal on any oral or written arguments, briefs, and evidence that the department receives.
  (6) The department shall render a written decision within 45 days of the date of appeal, or within 15 days of the date of oral arguments. A copy of the department's decision shall be delivered or mailed to the appellant.
  (7) The department may sustain the suspension or revocation decision or reverse that decision.
  (8) The appellant may seek a review of the decision of the department pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(a) Any renderer or collection center operator licensed pursuant to this article or transporter registered pursuant to Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 19310) who fails in any respect to keep the written records required by this article, or to set out in that written record any matter required by this article to be set out in the record, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
  (b) Every renderer, collection center operator, or transporter who refuses, upon demand of any peace officer or authorized employee of the Department of the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Food and Agriculture, to exhibit any written record required by this article, or who destroys that record within two years after making the final entry of any information required by this article, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
  (c) Any violation of subdivision (a) or (b) is punishable as follows:
  (1) For a first offense, by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 30 days, or by both the fine and imprisonment.
  (2) For a second offense within a period of one year, by a fine of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 30 days, or by both the fine and imprisonment. In addition to any other punishment imposed pursuant to this paragraph, the court may order the defendant to stop engaging in the business as a renderer, collection center operator, or transporter for a period not to exceed 30 days.
  (3) For a third or any subsequent offense within a period of two years, by a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment. In addition to any other sentence imposed pursuant to this paragraph, the court shall order the defendant to stop engaging in the business as a renderer, collection center operator, or transporter for a period of 30 days.