Article 3. Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 7. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 3.

There is, in the department, a Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board consisting of nine persons appointed by the secretary, eight of whom shall be licensed under this chapter and subject to the payment of the inspection fee in accordance with this chapter, and one of whom shall be a public member. The members of the board shall receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Human Resources. These expenses shall be paid out of appropriations made to the department pursuant to this chapter.

The term of office of a member of the board is three years. The initial board shall consist of, three members appointed for a term of three years, three members appointed for a term of two years, and three members appointed for a term of one year. Thereafter, appointments shall be for full three-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the duration of an unexpired term.

The board shall be advisory to the secretary and may make recommendations on all matters pertaining to this chapter, including, but not limited to, the inspection and enforcement program, research and education, the annual budget, necessary fees to provide adequate inspection services, and regulations required to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

(a) The secretary, by January 1, 2012, and in consultation with the board, shall review the definition of organic input materials in Section 14550.5 and identify oversight and implementation issues that may arise or have arisen on account of that definition. The review shall also include an examination of materials not currently regulated under this definition that may warrant oversight by the department so as to protect the state's agricultural industry, including the organic industry, and recommendations for any necessary statutory changes.
  (b) The secretary shall post the review required pursuant to subdivision (a) in a report on the Internet Web site of the department.

The board shall elect a chairperson and other officers as it deems advisable.

The board shall meet at the call of the chairperson or the secretary, or at the request of any five members of the board. The board shall meet at least once a year.

The secretary shall accept the recommendations of the advisory board pertaining to subdivision (b) of Section 14611 if he or she finds them to be practicable and in the interests of the fertilizer industry and the public. If the secretary does not accept the recommendations of the advisory board, or any part thereof, the secretary shall provide the board with a written statement within 15 working days of making his or her decision stating the reasons for not accepting the recommendations, or any part thereof.