Article 1. Declaration And General Provisions of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 15. >> Article 1.

The production, slaughtering, manufacturing and distributing of sheep and wool, and the products derived therefrom constitute an important industry of this state which not only provides substantial and necessary revenues for the state and employment for its citizens, but also furnishes essential food and fiber vital to the public health and welfare.

The maintenance and expansion of the sheep industry of California and of its local, national, and foreign markets, is necessary to assure the consuming public of a continuous supply of the vital food and fiber, and the maintenance of needed levels of income for those engaged in the sheep industry of this state.

It is necessary for human nutrition and public benefit that the public be made aware of accurate and scientific information relative to the beneficial qualities of sheep, wool, and the products derived therefrom, and the values and uses thereof, and of the production and distribution costs necessary to make sheep, wool, and the products derived therefrom, available to the consuming public.

The production and marketing of sheep, wool, and the products derived therefrom, produced in this state is hereby declared to be affected with a public interest. This chapter is enacted in the exercise of the police power of this state for the purpose of protecting the health, peace, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state.

No action taken by the commission, nor by any individual in accordance with this chapter or with the rules and regulations adopted under the chapter, is a violation of the so-called Cartwright Act (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 16700) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), the Fair Trade Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 16900) of that Part 2), the Unfair Practices Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 17000) of that Part 2), or any statutory or common law against monopolies or combinations in restraint of trade.

This chapter shall be liberally construed. If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.

It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that members of the commission are intended to represent and further the interest of a particular agricultural industry concerned, and that this representation and furtherance is intended to serve the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that, with respect to persons who are appointed to the commission, the particular agricultural industry concerned is tantamount to, and constitutes, the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the Government Code.

A commission form of administration created by this chapter is designed to deal with the broad fields of advertising, promotion, marketing research, production research, and protection of sheep.