Article 14. Complaints of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 7. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 14.

For purposes of this chapter, any person may file a complaint with the branch regarding the safety of whole hays if he or she submits a written complaint and pays a filing fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250). The filing fee, which shall be used for purposes of investigating complaints filed pursuant to this article, shall be deposited in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund to the account of the Commercial Feed Inspection Program.

(a) Upon the filing of a complaint pursuant to Section 15101, the secretary shall conduct an investigation with regard to the safety of whole hays.
  (b) Absent the filing of a complaint pursuant to Section 15101, the secretary may conduct an investigation with regard to the safety of whole hays if he or she determines that an investigation is necessary in order to protect animal health or the health of the public.

(a) If the secretary determines that the complaint is valid and the hay is unsafe, the secretary may require the seller of the hay to reimburse the filing fee to the person filing the complaint.
  (b) The secretary also may collect from any seller of hay the costs incurred by the secretary, not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), in conducting any investigation regarding the safety of whole hay sold by that seller if the hay is ultimately deemed to be unsafe.