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.