(a) To the extent that funds are available, the secretary, in consultation with the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, may establish procedures for and conduct all of the following activities:
(1) Receive and investigate complaints filed by any person concerning suspected acts of noncompliance with this act or federal organic standards.
(2) Conduct periodic spot inspections.
(3) Conduct periodic prohibited substance testing on products labeled as organic.
(4) Conduct farmers’ market inspections.
(5) Support organic agriculture through education, outreach, and other programmatic activities.
(6) Reimburse investigation, enforcement, and market surveillance expenses, including expenses incurred by any county agricultural commissioner for actions conducted pursuant to this chapter.
(7) Conduct hearings, appeals, mediation, or settlement conferences from actions taken to enforce this chapter.
(b) Investigation, inspection, and prohibited material testing reports shall be forwarded to the secretary for any required enforcement action.
(c) The secretary shall coordinate activities authorized under this section with other county and state licensing, registration, inspection, and fee collection procedures applicable to registrants.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 403, Sec. 6. (AB 1826) Effective January 1, 2017.)