Section 492 Of Article 4.5. Food Biotechnology Task Force From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 1. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 4.5.
492
. (a) The Legislature hereby creates the Food Biotechnology Task
Force. The task force shall be cochaired by the Secretary of
California Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of the
California Department of Food and Agriculture. The task force shall
consult with appropriate state agencies and the University of
California. The Department of Food and Agriculture shall be the lead
agency.
(b) An advisory committee shall be appointed by the task force to
provide input on issues reviewed by the task force. The advisory
committee shall consist of representatives from consumer groups,
environmental organizations, farmers, ranchers, representatives from
the biotechnology industry, researchers, organic farmers, food
processors, retailers, and others with interests in the issues
surrounding biotechnology.
(c) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall make funds
available to other agencies to accomplish the purposes of this
article and shall contract, where appropriate, with the California
Council on Science and Technology, the University of California, or
other entities to review issues evaluated by the task force or
support activities of the advisory committee.
(d) The task force may request particular agencies to lead the
effort to evaluate various factors related to food biotechnology. As
funding becomes available, the task force shall evaluate factors
including all of the following:
(1) Definition and categorization of food biotechnology and
production processes.
(2) Scientific literature on the subject, and a characterization
of information resources readily available to consumers.
(3) Issues related to domestic and international marketing of
biotechnology foods such as the handling, processing, manufacturing,
distribution, labeling, and marketing of these products.
(4) Potential benefits and impacts to human health, the state's
economy, and the environment accruing from food biotechnology.
(5) Existing federal and state evaluation and oversight
procedures.
(e) An initial sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars
($125,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund for
disbursement to the Department of Food and Agriculture. It is the
intent of the Legislature to make further funds available to
accomplish the purposes contained in this article.