Article 1. Definitions And General Provisions of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 18. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.

As used in this chapter, "field crop products" includes grain crops, dry bean crops, seeds, forage crops, fiber crops, and other field crops and the manufactured products and byproducts of such field crops.

The director shall do all of the following:
  (a) Establish, by regulation, uniform standards for field crop products which shall conform as closely as possible to those which are established by the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.
  (b) Establish inspection districts within the state. If such a district is established, inspection service may be rendered in it in accordance with regulations which are adopted by the director.
  (c) Establish, upon request, inspection stations at warehouses, docks, or industrial plants, which are within or without an established inspection district. The director may make special regulations which are applicable to each specific inspection station and the conditions under which it shall be established and maintained.
  (d) Provide through the regularly established inspection district and stations, sampling, grading, inspection, weighing, and certification service for field crop products within the state or which are shipped into or through the state.
  (e) Issue certificates as to quality, condition, and quantity of field crop or other agricultural products in accordance with standards which are established pursuant to this chapter, or any other standards which may be fixed by trade or contract and which do not conflict with official standards.
  (f) Adopt regulations for sampling, grading, inspection, weighing, and certification for the purposes of carrying out this chapter.
  (g) Fix fees for sampling, grading, inspection, weighing, and certification of field crop products, which fees in the aggregate shall pay the cost of services necessary to perform such sampling, grading, inspection, weighing, and certification. The director may collect such fees in advance of performing the services, but is not required to do so if in his opinion the benefits of such services would be lessened by such advance payments.

The director may enter any place where field crop products are stored, shipped, or sold, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

The director may, for the purpose of inspection and examination, break the seals of cars and after such inspection has been made shall securely close and reseal such doors as were broken open using a special seal which is provided by the department for the purpose. A record of all original seals broken, the date when broken, a record of all seals which were substituted thereafter, and the date and number of such seals shall be made.

Any railroad which delivers field crop products in cars at any place which is provided with inspection service pursuant to this chapter shall provide convenient and suitable sidetracks at such place as the director may designate, on which every car of field crop products which is delivered by them shall, upon arrival, be set and conveniently arranged for inspection, if such car of field crop products is to be inspected.

The director may assess a penalty of 1.5 percent per month, or fraction thereof, on any fees owed to the department for services rendered under this chapter whenever payment is not received within 30 days after the date of the invoice. The penalty shall be added to the original fee. In no event shall the total penalty for any one billed service exceed 50 percent of the original amount due for that service.