Article 2. General Provisions of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.

It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the provisions of this chapter are enacted in the exercise of the power of this state for the purposes of protecting and furthering the public health and welfare. It is further declared that the cattle industry of this state is affected with a public interest, in that, among other things:
  (a) The production, processing, manufacture, and distribution of beef and beef products constitute a paramount industry of this state which not only provides substantial and required revenues for the state and its political subdivisions, and employment and a means of livelihood for many thousands of its population, but also furnishes essential foods that are vital to the public health and welfare.
  (b) The stabilization, maintenance, and expansion of the cattle industry of California, and of the state, nationwide, and foreign markets for its products are necessary to assure the consuming public an adequate supply of foods which are indispensable in a proper human diet, to protect, for the state and its political subdivisions, a necessary source of tax revenue, to provide and maintain an adequate standard of living for a great segment of the population of this state, to maintain proper wage scales for those engaged in the cattle industry, and to maintain existing employment.
  (c) The essentiality of beef and beef products in a proper human nutrition and to the maintenance of a high level of public health is such as to require that the public be made thoroughly aware thereof, and be protected against misrepresentation and deception, by the dissemination of accurate and scientific information relative to the healthful qualities of beef and beef products, their various classifications and the food values and industrial and medicinal uses thereof, the methods, care and precautions necessary to their proper production, processing, manufacture, and distribution, and the necessary costs and expenses thereof, and the necessity and desirability on the part of the public of using and consuming beef and beef products of the highest standards of quality.

The purposes of this chapter are as follows:
  (a) To enable the cattle industry, with the aid of the state, to develop, maintain, and expand the state, nationwide, and foreign markets for beef and beef products produced, processed, manufactured, sold, or distributed in this state, for human consumption, and the use and consumption of these beef and beef products in those markets.
  (b) In aid, but not in limitation, of the purpose in subdivision (a), to authorize and enable the director to formulate and effectuate, directly or in cooperation with other agencies and instrumentalities which are specified in this chapter, research relating to the nutritional qualities of beef and beef products and public consumption patterns and trends, and sales stimulation and consumer, or other, educational programs designed to increase the use and consumption of beef and beef products for human consumption.
  (c) To provide funds for the administration and enforcement of this chapter by mandatory fees to be collected in the manner which is prescribed in this chapter, unless producers elect to provide those funds through voluntary contributions pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 64671).

This chapter shall be liberally construed. If any section, sentence, clause, or part of this chapter is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision does not affect the remaining portion of this chapter but such unconstitutional or invalid provision is separable from the valid parts of this chapter.

Any violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor.