(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a site within this state that has been treated with, or a plant, crop, or commodity, whether grown in this state or elsewhere, that has been treated with, or grown on a site treated with, a pesticide that is not registered for use on that plant, crop, commodity, or site is a public nuisance and may be seized by order of the director.
(b) The unlawful treatment described in subdivision (a) creates, in favor of the director, rebuttable presumptions affecting the burden of producing evidence pursuant to Section 604 of the Evidence Code as follows:
(1) That the treated plant, crop, commodity, or site, or any plant, crop, or commodity grown on the treated site, presents a hazard to human health or the environment.
(2) That the pesticide was used to gain an unfair business advantage for the owner or person in possession or control of the plant, crop, commodity, or site.
(c) The director shall provide notice to the owner or person in possession or control of the plant, crop, commodity, or site prior to seizure, unless the director has reason to believe that prior notice would result in the loss of control by the director of that plant, crop, commodity, or site, in which case notice shall be given as soon as practical, but in any event within five days of the seizure. The notice shall specify the grounds for the seizure and provide that the owner or person in possession or control, within 15 days of receipt of the notice, may request a hearing before the director to contest the seizure or rebut the presumptions specified in subdivision (b). The hearing shall be held not later than five days from the date the request of the owner or person is received by the director. The director shall render a written decision within five days of the hearing or within five days of the expiration of the time to request a hearing if no hearing was requested. The decision shall either release the plant, crop, commodity, or site from seizure or make any of the following orders:
(1) Destruction of the plant, crop, or commodity.
(2) Prohibition of harvest or sale of the plant, crop, or commodity grown on the site.
(3) Prohibition of the use or planting of the site, which may be for the period of any plant back time specified for the pesticide used on the site.
(4) Any other appropriate action or measure.
(d) Review of the decision of the director may be sought by the owner or person in possession or control of the plant, crop, commodity, or site pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 17, Sec. 42. Effective January 1, 1998.)