Article 2. General Provisions of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 18. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.

This chapter and the terms which are used in it shall be construed so as to conform insofar as possible with the construction which is placed upon the Federal Seed Act (7 U.S.C., Sec. 1551, et seq.) and regulations which are issued pursuant to that act, and to effectuate its purpose to make uniform the laws of the states adopting it.

The secretary and, under the supervision and direction of the secretary, the commissioner of each county and the qualified representative of the commissioner, shall enforce this chapter and carry out its provisions and requirements. The secretary shall have the discretion to determine which enforcement activities are conducted by the commissioner in each county and which enforcement activities shall be conducted by department personnel.

The director may cooperate with the United States Department of Agriculture and other agencies in the enforcement of this chapter.

The director may issue such orders, circulars, and announcements as he may deem necessary to further the purposes of this chapter.

If the director or the commissioner finds that any person has violated any provision of this chapter, he may institute proceedings in the court of competent jurisdiction in the area in which the violation occurred, to have such person convicted of the violation, or he may file with the district attorney with the view of prosecution such evidence as may be deemed necessary.

The director shall maintain a properly equipped laboratory for examining and testing seeds.

All prohibited and restricted noxious weed seed which are enumerated in this chapter or in any regulation which is adopted by the director pursuant to this chapter are hereby recognized as noxious within the meaning of the Federal Seed Act (7 U.S.C., Sec. 1551, et seq.).

The Legislature hereby declares that it is the intent of this chapter to enable the seed industry, with the aid of the state, to ensure that seed purchased by the consumer-buyer is properly identified and of the quality and amount represented on the tag or label. The Legislature further declares that the success of agriculture and the seed industry in this state depends upon the continued commitment to industry-funded research in order to improve the quality and variety of seed available to the consumer-buyer.