Article 1 - General

California Food and Agricultural Code — §§ 65001-65004

Sections (4)

Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 497, Sec. 127. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2020. Provisions operative or inoperative as prescribed in Sections 65061, 65066, 65068, and 65069. Repealed conditionally pursuant to Section 65066.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a)The production of cattle for both beef and dairy constitutes a paramount industry of this state that not only provides substantial revenues for the state but also provides willing consumers with local and nutritious food.

(b)The raising of beef and dairy cattle provides a viable living for many Californians and serves as the economic foundation for many rural communities. Cattle producers strive to be stewards of the resources they manage and the existence of ranching in California serves the public by providing numerous environmental and aesthetic benefits that would otherwise be lost without the use of California’s various range and pasture lands as working

landscapes.

(c)Cattle production in California reflects a diverse set of family farmers and ranchers, including women- and minority-owned businesses, that provide a varied line of beef and dairy products through conventional, organic, grass-fed, kosher, halal, and other production methods that fill niche markets desired by willing consumers. Cattle producers vary in size from small to large based on the total number of animals raised and contribute equally to providing wholesome beef and dairy products to willing consumers.

(d)The stabilization, maintenance, and expansion of the cattle industry of California and the expansion of local, state, nationwide, and foreign markets for California beef and other products derived from the California cattle industry are necessary in order to provide willing consumers an adequate supply of high-quality California beef and dairy

products.

(e)The council’s form of administration created by this chapter is uniquely situated to provide those engaged principally in the production of cattle, along with beef and other products derived from the California cattle industry, the opportunity to avail themselves of the benefits of collective action in advertising, promotion, food safety, production research, nutrition, marketing research, the collection and dissemination of production and related statistics, and public education.

§ 65002

Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 410, Sec. 2. (SB 965) Effective January 1, 2019. Provisions operative or inoperative as prescribed in Sections 65061, 65066, 65068, and 65069. Repealed conditionally pursuant to Section 65066.

The purposes of this chapter are as follows:

(a)Most notably, to authorize and enable the secretary and the appointed governing body of the council to formulate and effectuate, directly or in cooperation with other agencies and parties, research relating to all types of California cattle production, including nonconventional and organic methods of production. Research may be focused on, but not limited to, improving the efficiency and sustainability of the California cattle industry, the development of management practices and assistance with compliance for rules and regulations that govern the production of cattle in California, the nutritional qualities of California beef and other products derived from the California cattle industry, public consumption

patterns and trends, sales stimulation, and the development of consumer or other educational programs designed to increase the use and consumption of California beef and other products derived from the California cattle industry by willing consumers.

(b)To enable the California cattle industry to develop, maintain, and expand the local, state, nationwide, and foreign markets for all types, conventional and nonconventional, of California beef and other products derived from the California cattle industry.

(c)To enhance the California cattle and dairy industries, create a favorable environment for California cattle producers to operate, and improve the competitiveness of California cattle producers in both the national and international marketplace.

(d)To enable the council to present facts to local, state, federal,

and foreign agencies on matters that affect the California cattle industry and the production of California beef and dairy cattle, beef, and other products derived from the California cattle industry.

(e)To provide funds for the administration and enforcement of this chapter by mandatory fees to be collected in the manner that is prescribed in this chapter, unless producers elect to receive a refund of those funds pursuant to Section 65075.

§ 65003

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

§ 65004

It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination that council members and alternates are intended to represent and further the interest of the particular 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 elected or appointed to the council, the particular industry concerned is tantamount to and constitutes the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the Government Code.