The commission may establish a program allowing for the certification of any verifiable attribute of rice. The commission may operate the program or contract with qualified entities to implement all or any aspect of the program. No organization shall be considered qualified for the purposes of this article unless it can provide accurate, verifiable certification of identified attributes of seed, rough or paddy rice, or milled rice, as determined by the commission. This article does not authorize the certification of any rice as organic. Certification pursuant to this article shall not be construed as establishing any production, processing, or market tolerance.
California Rice Certification Act ofCertification of Rice
Section § 55070
This section allows a commission to create a program for certifying specific, verifiable attributes of rice. The commission can either run the program itself or hire qualified organizations to do so. To be qualified, an organization must accurately certify attributes of different rice forms, like seeds, paddy, or milled rice. However, this program does not allow for organic certification, and participating in this certification program does not mean any approval of production or market standards.
rice certification verifiable attributes qualified entities
Section § 55071
The law requires organizations that want to certify rice in California to submit their certification procedures and standards. This must align with recognized international identity preservation programs or certification plans.
They should include information on what seed producers, handlers, and inspectors must provide and verify. This includes inspector qualifications, training, and inspection processes like sampling methods. It also sets certification criteria and outlines the decision process for certification.
These plans are maintained by the commission and must be accessible to the public if requested.
(a)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55071(a) The commission shall require any organization seeking to certify rice pursuant to this article to file the procedures and standards of an internationally recognized identity preservation program or a certification plan, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55071(a)(1) Minimum information to be required from seed producers, producers and handlers regarding production, growing, conditioning, or processing practices, and methods for verifying the information received.
(2)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55071(a)(2) Qualifications of, and training requirements for, all inspectors.
(3)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55071(a)(3) Procedures for inspection and testing methods, including a complete description of the sampling methodologies.
(4)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55071(a)(4) Criteria for certification and attributes to be certified.
(5)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55071(a)(5) Processes for decisionmaking relative to certification procedures, criteria, and methods.
(b)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55071(b) The certification plan shall be kept by the commission and made available for public inspection upon request.
rice certification identity preservation certification standards
Section § 55072
Organizations that certify rice must maintain precise records of their certification activities. These records need to be kept for three years and must be available for inspection whenever the commission requests it in writing.
Organizations certifying rice shall keep accurate books, accounts, and records of all activities relating to certification. The records shall be preserved for a period of three years and shall be submitted for inspection at any reasonable time upon written demand of the commission.
rice certification record keeping inspection
Section § 55074
After each rice growing season, groups responsible for certifying rice must create a list of all individuals whose rice is certified or waiting for certification. This list is then given to the commission and made available for anyone to view.
At the end of each rice producing season, as established by the commission, each organization certifying rice for the commission shall prepare a list of all persons whose rice has been certified or is pending certification. This list shall be filed with the commission and shall be available for public inspection.
rice certification rice producers commission list
Section § 55075
This section states that rice producers, handlers, and certifying organizations must provide the rice commission with inspection access to records within 72 hours of a request. These records, and any trade secrets or confidential data, are not considered public records and won’t be disclosed publicly. The commission also doesn’t have to obtain records it doesn't have following a subpoena. If records are released, sensitive information like financial details, supplier identities, or trade secrets must be removed. Records from this chapter are accessible to the public only through specific references in Sections 55071 and 55074.
(a)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55075(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any producer or handler of rice sold as a certified rice and any organization certifying rice for the commission shall immediately make available for inspection by, and shall within 72 hours of a request provide to, the commission a copy of any record required to be kept under this chapter. Records acquired pursuant to this section and any information marked trade secret or confidential acquired by the commission in carrying out its duties under this chapter shall not be public records as that term is defined in Section 7920.530 of the Government Code and shall not be subject to Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government
Code.
(b)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55075(b) The commission shall not be required to obtain records not in its possession in response to a subpoena. Prior to releasing records required to be kept pursuant to this chapter in response to a subpoena, the commission shall delete any financial information about any operation or transaction, information regarding the identity of suppliers or customers, the quantity or price of supplies purchased or products sold, and any information marked trade secret or confidential.
(c)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 55075(c) Except for those records subject to public inspection pursuant to Sections 55071 and 55074, this section shall be the exclusive means of public access to records required to be kept or obtained by the commission pursuant to this chapter.
rice producers rice handlers certified rice
Section § 55076
This law allows the commission to certify all rice produced in a specific area as having a particular quality or characteristic if someone provides solid evidence for doing so. Once the rice is certified, it can be labeled accordingly as long as its identity is maintained properly.
Upon receipt of a petition from any person providing adequate evidence of good cause to do so, the commission may declare all rice produced within a specified area to be certified as to any attribute. If the commission makes this declaration, all rice produced within the area shall be deemed certified, and may be labeled as provided in Section 55082 if the rice is handled to preserve its identity.
rice certification agricultural commission evidence of good cause
