Chapter 3. Certification Of Plant Shipments of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 4. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 3.

As used in this chapter, "certificate" means the certification by a commissioner, deputy commissioner, or inspector of the pest condition or treatment of any shipment of plants.

The board of supervisors of any county may establish a schedule of fees for any or all classes of certificates to be paid by shippers that request such certificates.

No fee shall be charged for certification required by any law, regulation, or requirement of the United States or of this state or by any ordinance, regulation, or requirement of any county of this state.

The schedule of fees for the certificates shall be based upon the approximate cost of the inspection.

A commissioner shall make such inspections as may be necessary to determine the facts which are required by the state or country of intended destination and shall issue a certificate that states the facts which are determined upon receipt of the scheduled fee for a certificate or, if no scheduled fee has been established, upon request of the shipper.

The board of supervisors of any county may designate any place within the county as a fumigation or treatment station for the purpose of enabling the commissioner to inspect plant shipments for certificates, if fumigation or other treatment is required by the state or country of destination as a condition of shipment to such state or country.

If the board of supervisors designates a place as a fumigation or treatment station, the commissioner shall inspect plant shipments at the stations, for shipment to other states or countries which require fumigation or treatment as a condition of shipment.

It is unlawful for any person to alter, deface, or wrongfully use a certificate issued pursuant to any provision of this division.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), any violation of this chapter is an infraction punishable by a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75) for the first offense and is a misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense within three years of a prior conviction of a violation of this chapter.
  (b) (1) Any use by any person of a false or invalid certificate for the purpose of certification pursuant to this chapter is a misdemeanor.
  (2) For the purpose of this section, "false certificate" means a document, as defined in Section 5201, that has not been issued by a commissioner, deputy commissioner, or inspector.
  (3) For the purposes of this section, "invalid certificate" means a document, as defined in Section 5201, that is based upon false information supplied to the commissioner, deputy commissioner, or inspector which is essential to the issuance of the certificate.