Article 1. Declaration And General Provisions of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 28. >> Article 1.

The California beekeeping industry provides critical pollination services to growers of over 90 California agricultural crops that constitute one-third of our daily diet and 37.5 percent of California's total agricultural production. Additionally, California beekeepers rank in the top four states annually in honey production. The industry provides substantial and necessary revenues for the state and for its citizens.

The establishment of the commission is necessary for the efficient creation and management of a research program to protect the health of honeybees, an integrated approach to manage pests and diseases common to honeybees, and to develop more efficient colony management practices. The commission is also necessary to ensure the existence of the segment of the industry that provides one-half of the queen bees, bulk bees, and starter colonies to other beekeepers throughout the United States and Canada. The commission is also necessary for the efficient development and management of state and national education programs that, combined with research, will enhance the competitiveness of the California beekeeping industry worldwide.

The provision of pollination services, production of honey, bees, queen bees, and other hive products 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.

The commission form of administration created by this chapter is designed to provide those engaged in beekeeping the opportunity to avail themselves of the benefits of collective action in the broad field of apiary research necessary to achieve the purposes stated in this chapter.

No action taken by the commission or by any individual commission member, that is in accordance with this chapter or with regulations adopted under this chapter, is a violation of the Cartwright Act (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 16700) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), the Unfair Practices Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 17000) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), 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 to be invalid, the 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.