BILL ANALYSIS
AB 945
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 15, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Cathleen Galgiani, Chair
AB 945 (Agriculture) - As Amended: April 13, 2009
SUBJECT : Agriculture Omnibus: Food and Agriculture regulations:
equine drugs: fruits, nuts and vegetables standards.
SUMMARY : Deletes alternative certificate options for an
individual horse show, competition, or sale thereby having all
designated shows, competitions and sales to be under the
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA); extends
the sunset for fruit and vegetable standardization to January 1,
2015.
EXISTING LAW exempts the Secretary (Secretary) of CDFA authority
to certify an individual horse show, competition, or sale when
the following are satisfied:
1)A written certification is requested.
2)The event manager makes written request 30 days prior to
event.
3)The sponsor's drug and medication rules comply or are more
stringent than the state requirements.
4)Drug and medication usage is monitored in accordance with
sponsor's rules.
5)Appropriate security and identification of test samples occur
and analysis is done by an accredited laboratory.
6)Effective enforcement procedures occur.
This certificate is for only one event and may be withdrawn by
the Secretary if compliance with requirements fails.
CDFA is authorized to create standardization programs for fruits
nuts and vegetables and implementing them through industry
funds. This requires regulations necessary to carry out this
program, including but not limited to, assessment rates and
payment procedures. These statutory authorizations will sunsets
on January 1, 2010.
AB 945
Page 2
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. Legislative Counsel has keyed this
bill fiscal.
COMMENTS : The Equine Medication Monitoring Program Advisory
Committee is made up of various appointed members whose
organizations or events are affected by this program. At their
October 16, 2008 annual meeting, they proposed elimination of
this alternative certification program which they could use
instead of CDFA's program. Further, the United States Equine
Foundation's Medical Administrator, Dr. Steve Shumacher,
confirmed with Committee staff that the state's program is
consistent with the federal program so the alternative
certification is not needed.
The purpose of the state's standardization programs are to
remove from the channels of trade fruits, nuts, and vegetables
not complying to minimum standards for quality, size, maturity,
consistency in packaging, labeling and packing. This protects
the consumers from having products that are not mature in the
marketplace or that could have animal or packing damage causing
the product to prematurely rot or spoil. This is funded by a
container fee assessed per container and established by CDFA
through regulation.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Western Growers Association
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084