55040-55047

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE
SECTION 55040-55047




55040.  The powers and duties of the committee shall include, but
not be limited to, all of the following:
   (a) Identifying rices that have characteristics of commercial
impact.
   (b) Recommending to the secretary proposed regulations
establishing terms and conditions for planting, producing,
processing, or handling rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a),
including, but not limited to, seed application requirements, field
buffer zones, handling requirements, seed testing, and identity
preservation requirements. All rice identified pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall be subject to an identity preservation program.
   (c) Reviewing the efficacy of terms, conditions, and identity
preservation programs imposed on the planting, producing, processing,
or handling of rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) using the
most current industry standards and generally accepted scientific
principles.
   (d) Recommending to the secretary on all matters pertaining to
this chapter, including, but not limited to, the amendment or repeal
of regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, enforcement of this
chapter, and setting the assessment rates.
   (e) The committee shall review each rice identified as having
characteristics of commercial impact not less often than every two
years, or upon receipt of a petition from a handler of rice. A
handler of rice identified as having characteristics of commercial
impact may not file more than one petition on a particular variety of
rice in any two-year period.
   (f) Neither the recommendations of the committee nor any
regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be construed as
establishing any production, processing, or market tolerance.



55047.  The committee shall recommend to the secretary that
regulations be adopted, amended, or repealed by the secretary to
accomplish all of the following purposes:
   (a) Maintain the integrity and prevent the contamination of rice
which has not been identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section
55040.
   (b) Prevent the introduction of diseases, weeds, or other pests.
   (c) Ensure that persons handling seed for the production of rice
identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 55040, or that
persons bringing rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 55040 into the state for processing, notify the commission of
the location of planting sites and of the dates and procedures for
planting, producing, processing, or handling of rice identified
pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 55040.
   (d) Ensure that persons receiving rice having been identified
pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 55040 produced outside the
state for processing notify the commission of the location of the
receipt and of the procedures for processing or handling the rice to
prevent commercial impact to other rice and the spread of weeds,
diseases, or other pests.
   (e) Ensure enforcement of terms and conditions imposed on the
planting, processing, or handling of rice identified pursuant to
subdivision (a) of Section 55040.
   (f) Encourage research and development of new types of rice.