(a)  All pesticide regulations and any amendments to these regulations adopted pursuant to the federal act or the Food and Agricultural Code, in effect on November 23, 1970, or adopted on or after this date, are the pesticide regulations in this state. The department may, by regulation, prescribe tolerances for pesticides in processed foods in this state whether or not these tolerances are in accordance with the regulations adopted pursuant to the federal act or the Food and Agricultural Code.

(b)  Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the department shall evaluate the tolerance prescribed, or an exemption from a tolerance granted, for a pesticide in processed foods and make a determination whether or not the existing tolerance, or the exemption from a tolerance, is protective of the public health whenever any one of the following occurs:

(1)  The Director of Food and Agriculture designates the pesticide as a restricted material pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 14004.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

(2)  The Director of Food and Agriculture refuses to register or cancels the registration of the pesticide pursuant to Section 12825, or suspends the registration of the pesticide pursuant to Section 12826, of the Food and Agricultural Code, upon determining that the pesticide is detrimental to the public health and safety.

(3)  The Director of Food and Agriculture adopts regulations restricting worker entry into areas treated with the pesticide pursuant to Section 12981 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

(4)  The pesticide is the subject of a proceeding pursuant to a determination by the Environmental Protection Agency under paragraph (3)(i)(A), (3)(ii)(A), (3)(ii)(B), or (3)(iii) of subsection (a) of Section 162.11 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The requirement to evaluate a tolerance prescribed, or an exemption from a tolerance granted, for a pesticide does not apply if the department finds that any of the actions described in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, occurred for reasons that are not related to the question whether or not the existing tolerance, or the exemption from a tolerance, adequately protects the public health. If the department makes such a finding, the reasons for the finding shall be stated in writing.

(c)  The determination required by subdivision (b), and the reasons for the determination, shall be stated in writing. If the determination is required because any of the actions described in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (b) occurs after January 1, 1985, the determination shall be completed within one year of the date of the action. If the determination is required because any of those actions occurred prior to January 1, 1985, the determination shall be completed by January 1, 1990.

(d)  In any case where the department, after consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, determines, pursuant to subdivision (b), that the tolerance prescribed, or an exemption from a tolerance granted, for a pesticide is not protective of the public health, the department shall, if it does not act immediately pursuant to subdivision (a), transmit notice of its determination to the responsible federal agencies and shall request that they take action, pursuant to the federal act, to modify the tolerance or an exemption from a tolerance. If, after one year from the date the notice is transmitted, the department finds that the responsible federal agencies have failed to take appropriate action to protect the public health, the department shall exercise its authority pursuant to subdivision (a) to prescribe a tolerance that is protective of the public health and shall notify the responsible federal agencies of its action.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996. Note: See Section 26205 (from which this section is derived) as modified on July 17, 1991, in Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1991.)