(a)  Every laboratory or other person which performs or which brokers or otherwise arranges for the performance of pesticide chemical analysis on food shall report to the appropriate state agency any finding of pesticide chemical residues in a food for which no chemical residue tolerance has been established or that is in excess of federal or state residue tolerances or tolerances for a pesticide suspended, banned, or otherwise not permitted by the Department of Pesticide Regulation or the Environmental Protection Agency, if the food is in the channels of trade. The report shall be made as soon as possible, and in any event, not later than 24 hours after the analyzing laboratory makes the finding. Findings on raw agricultural commodities and dairy products shall be reported to the Department of Food and Agriculture. Findings on raw agricultural commodities shall also be reported to the Department of Pesticide Regulation. Findings on all other foods shall be made to the State Department of Health Services.

(b)  For the purpose of reporting findings regarding raw agricultural commodities, “in the channels of trade” means the point at which the raw agricultural commodities leave the farm, including raw agricultural commodities bound for processing up to the point that processing is initiated. For the purpose of reporting findings in processed foods, “in the channels of trade” means at the point the processed food leaves the direct control of the processor, which means either that the product is not located on the premises owned by, or under the control of, the processor or a portion of the product has been released for sale or use.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996.)