California

Food and Agricultural Code - FAC

9,659 sections, each with the official text and a plain-English explanation of what it means for you.

• § 21735 — Any amount which is recovered upon the bond shall be paid to the owner of the animal.
• § 21736 — The bureau shall grant to every applicant that complies with this article and the regulations which are adopted pursuant to it, a separate license to operate each salesyard for the balance of the curr
• § 21737 — A permit shall be granted by the bureau to change the address or location of a previously licensed salesyard.
• § 21738 — Each such license shall be renewed on or before the first day of each succeeding calendar year.
• § 21743 — Any person that is engaged in the business of selling cattle on consignment at any public stockyard, public salesyard, or public cattle sales market shall prepare a certificate of consignment on or be
• § 21744 — Cattle shall not be released from a public stockyard, public salesyard, public cattle sales market, or any other public consignment sale or private auction sale unless they are accompanied by a brand
• § 21745 — The press-numbered bill of sale or press-numbered certificate of sale that is required pursuant to Section 21744 shall contain all of the following information on a form that is approved by the chief:
• § 21746 — The director may make regulations which govern the brand inspection of cattle at public salesyards, public stockyards and at private cattle auction sales.
• § 21747 — It is unlawful for any person to sell cattle at a public salesyard or release cattle from public salesyards unless an inspector has made a brand inspection of animals which are consigned or shipped to
• § 21748 — It is unlawful for any person to release any cattle which are sold at public auction unless the required brand inspection certificate has been prepared by the inspector in advance of the release of th
• § 21749 — Except as otherwise provided in Section 21750, any person that engages as a business in the sale of cattle at a public salesyard without a license is, in addition to all other penalties, liable to a p
• § 21750 — Any public cattle salesyard operator that has had a previous license and continues to operate a public salesyard after the expiration of his license is not required to pay penalties pursuant to Sectio
• § 21751 — (a) If cattle sold at a public auction have a dairy exemption number, the auctioneer shall announce at the sale that those cattle are being sold under the dairy exemption number provision and must go
• § 2181 — Upon satisfactory evidence presented to the Secretary or the Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation that the commissioner of any county is guilty of neglect of duty, incompetence, or misco
• § 2182 — The county agricultural commissioner’s trial board shall be composed of the Secretary and the Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation, a person who has knowledge of, or experience in, agric
• § 2183 — At least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing the director shall give notice in writing to the commissioner of the time and place of the hearing and such information as to the nature of the charge
• § 2184 — At the hearing the trial board shall hear the evidence which is offered.
• § 2185 — The trial board shall, within 30 days subsequent to the conclusion of the hearing make an order dismissing the charges or an order disqualifying the commissioner.
• § 21851 — As used in this article, “range” means the enclosed or unenclosed lands outside of cities, towns, and villages in this state, whether of the public domain or in private ownership, upon which by custom
• § 21852 — Any person that is not the owner or does not have the right of possession of any cattle, that is found driving such cattle off its usual range, without the consent of the owner, is guilty of grand the
• § 21855 — Notwithstanding any other law, in any action for the wrongful taking, possessing, harboring, or transporting of cattle, for the driving of cattle off their usual range, or for the killing or slaughter
• § 21856 — (a) The judge before whom any person is tried for the wrongful taking, possessing, killing, or slaughter of cattle without the consent of the owner or the person lawfully in possession of those cattle
• § 2186 — If the order disqualifies the commissioner, the director shall revoke the commissioner’s license and declare his or her office vacant.
• § 2187 — The license of a deputy commissioner may be revoked in the same manner and for the same causes that a license of a commissioner may be revoked.
• § 21881 — If any animal is killed or injured upon the right-of-way of any railroad in this state, the owner or operator of the railroad equipment injuring or killing the animal shall report it as soon as possib
• § 21882 — The report shall contain all of the following: (a) A description of the animal.
• § 21883 — The report shall be given by telephone, telegraph, or mail to the owner of the animal if known.
• § 21884 — Reports by telephone shall be confirmed within 24 hours by telegraph or mail to the office of the sheriff.
• § 21885 — Upon receiving the report the officer or brand inspector shall attempt to ascertain the ownership of the dead or injured animal and notify the owner of the death or injury of the animal.
• § 21886 — It is unlawful for any person to bury, conceal, or destroy any animal, or do anything to the carcass of any animal, which will tend to make ascertainment of its ownership more difficult until the owne
• § 22 — Inasmuch as the planned production of trees is distinguishable from the production of other products of the soil only in relation to the time elapsing before maturity, the production of trees shall be
• § 22001 — Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person shall not slaughter, or request or hire any person that is not a licensed slaughterer to slaughter, any bovine animal.
• § 22001.5 — The Legislature finds and declares that mobile slaughter operators who perform the service of slaughtering cattle for the owner of the cattle on the owner’s premises are not licensed slaughterers purs
• § 22002 — Any producer of cattle may slaughter or have slaughtered for him on his own premises, in small numbers, cattle of his own production and raising on his own premises for use exclusively by him, members
• § 22003 — Cattle which are slaughtered by or for the producer of the cattle at his premises and for his own consumption may be transported with the hide on, after complete removal of the viscera, head, and feet
• § 22004 — Carcasses and hides received by the licensed frozen food locker plant or processor shall be identified in a manner prescribed by regulation and inspected, or released, by the brand inspector.
• § 22004.1 — It is the responsibility of the person who slaughters an animal and delivers the carcass to a licensed frozen food locker plant or processor pursuant to Section 22003 or 22004 to obtain a brand inspec
• § 22005 — The skinning, splitting, and quartering of the cattle slaughtered pursuant to Section 22002 at a licensed frozen food locker plant are not required to be performed by a licensed slaughterer.
• § 22006 — The licensed frozen food locker plant operator shall maintain a record of every transaction which involves uninspected meat for a period of five years.
• § 22007 — Any owner or producer of livestock may have them inspected and slaughtered by a licensed slaughterer.
• § 22008 — Every person that is not a licensed slaughterer that slaughters cattle shall do all of the following: (a) Keep a record in a book which he or she keeps for that purpose of all cattle that are slaughte
• § 22009 — Any person who is requested to custom cut or otherwise process for another person any meat from a bovine animal that was not slaughtered by a licensed slaughterer pursuant to Article 2 (commencing wit
• § 2201 — The compensation provided for a commissioner, deputy commissioner, county agricultural inspector, or clerk who is employed by the year or by the month shall be paid out of the county treasury in the s
• § 22010 — Any person receiving meat pursuant to Section 22009 shall keep a record in a book which he keeps for that purpose that discloses the following information on all such meat received: (a) The name, addr
• § 2203 — The commissioner shall be paid his or her compensation and traveling and incidental expenses while he or she is attending the annual meeting of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers As
• § 22031 — A person shall not engage in the business of slaughtering cattle unless the person has been issued a grant of inspection by the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Servi
• § 22037 — (a) A mobile slaughter operator, as provided in Section 22001.
• § 2204 — The compensation of a commissioner who is appointed by the director shall be paid in the same manner as if he were appointed by the board of supervisors.
• § 22044 — Every licensed slaughterer of cattle shall have on file in his office prior to slaughter and shall keep for one year after slaughter, the original bill of sale of cattle which are purchased by him or
• § 22045 — Every licensed slaughterer that slaughters cattle where inspection prior to slaughter is impossible or impractical shall keep a record which sets forth the name of the person from whom the cattle were
• § 22046 — Every licensed slaughterer that does not have brand inspection prior to slaughter on each day on which he slaughters, and whose hides are not inspected during the month, shall on or before the 15th da
• § 22047 — It is unlawful for a licensed slaughterer to allow anyone to slaughter cattle at the licensee’s plant, except a person that is licensed to slaughter there or an employee of such person.
• § 22048 — If a licensed slaughterer desires to change to another location, the person shall notify the bureau of the relocation.
• § 22049 — It is unlawful for a licensed slaughterer to slaughter cattle at any place other than a slaughterhouse at which he is licensed to slaughter.
• § 2205 — The rate and manner of payment of compensation for a commissioner who is employed pursuant to Section 2124 shall be fixed by the board of supervisors of the employing county.
• § 2206 — The board of supervisors of any county in which the director is required by Section 2125 to perform the duties of commissioner shall, upon claim which is duly submitted, reimburse the department for a
• § 22081 — A wholesaler of meat shall not purchase the meat of any animal except from any of the following: (a) A licensed slaughterer.
• § 22082 — A peddler or retailer of meat shall not purchase the meat of an animal from any person not known to him to be a licensed slaughterer, or a regular wholesale dealer in meat that has an established plac
• § 22083 — Every peddler or retailer of meat that purchases the meat of any animal shall enter all of the following in a book which he keeps for that purpose and exhibit it on demand to any agent of the departme
• § 22084 — A person, other than a regular wholesaler of meat that has an established place of business or a licensed slaughterer, shall not give, sell, or deliver to any peddler of meat any part of the carcass o
• § 22086 — It is unlawful for any person to misrepresent the type, kind, or quality of a dressed carcass of any animal or part of such carcass, or the sex, age, or quality of any animal the meat of which is sold
• § 221 — (a) The “Department of Food and Agriculture Fund,” which is a special fund, is continued in existence.
• § 221.1 — Notwithstanding Section 221, the department shall establish all permanent positions with the Controller’s office, pursuant to standard state administrative practices.
• § 222 — The director shall keep a separate record of the classes and sources of income which are credited to, and disbursed from, the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund.
• § 2221 — For the purpose of this article the base salary of a commissioner is the salary, or if a salary range is established, the lowest step in such range, which was established for the position for the mont
• § 2222 — For the purpose of securing more uniform and adequate enforcement of this code throughout the state, the director may enter into cooperative agreements with the board of supervisors of any county whic
• § 2223 — In the agreement the board of supervisors shall agree not to reduce the salary of the commissioner to less than the base salary.
• § 2224 — The director may agree with the board of supervisors of any county in which no salary was established for the position of commissioner for January, 1959, that the state will pay not to exceed six thou
• § 223 — A sum not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) may, upon approval of the Department of Finance, be withdrawn from the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund to be used as a revolving fund
• § 224 — Moneys transferred by the Controller to the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund from the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account pursuant to Section 8352.
• § 224.5 — (a) In order to be eligible for the transfer specified in subdivision (g) of Section 224, counties must meet all of the following criteria, as determined by the secretary: (1) Currently employ or cont
• § 2241 — As used in this article “commissioner” includes a commissioner who is employed pursuant to Section 2124.
• § 2242 — The board of supervisors shall provide a suitable office for the commissioner, and shall furnish and equip his office with all necessary furniture, supplies, and effects for the proper discharge of hi
• § 2243 — The board of supervisors may also provide the commissioner with all necessary field equipment for the proper discharge of the duties of his office.
• § 2244 — All expenses which are ordered by the board of supervisors for the office, furniture, supplies, effects, and equipment for the commissioner are a county charge.
• § 225 — Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on all funds transferred from the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund and the Acala Cotton Fund for any purpose other than to carry out or enforce the l
• § 226 — (a) Notwithstanding Section 11044 of the Government Code, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is hereby continuously appropriated from the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund in eac
• § 227 — (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to avoid unnecessary charges and to provide for efficient program implementation, the fees and assessments required by law to be paid to the di
• § 2271 — The commissioner shall keep a record of his official acts.
• § 2272 — (a) The commissioner shall make an annual report to the director on the condition of agriculture in his or her county and on what is being done to eradicate, control, or manage pests, and actions rela
• § 2273 — The commissioner shall also make a monthly report to the board of supervisors if and when so required by the board.
• § 2274 — The commissioner shall learn about all pests that may exist, or are likely to exist, in his county.
• § 2275 — The commissioner, for the purpose of learning the best and most efficacious methods of performing his or her duties, shall attend the annual meeting of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Se
• § 2276 — The commissioner shall, for the purpose of becoming informed about new and dangerous agricultural pests, observing and learning new and better methods of pest control, and determining the best and mos
• § 2276.5 — (a) The Legislature finds and declares that, acting under policy direction of the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, California’s unique system of county agricultural commissioners forms the front lin
• § 2277 — The commissioner shall, if directed by the board of supervisors, collect, prepare, and install exhibits for public information which illustrate the work of his department, depict the resources of the
• § 2278 — The commissioner may disseminate information which relates to pests that may exist in his county, or are likely to exist in it.
• § 2279 — The commissioner shall compile reports of the condition, acreage, production, and value of the agricultural products in his county.
• § 2280 — The director, when acting in person with a commissioner, has all the rights of such commissioner.
• § 2281 — Except as otherwise specifically provided, in all cases where provisions of this code place joint responsibility for the enforcement of laws and regulations on the director and the commissioner, the c
• § 2282 — (a) Except as provided in Section 2282.
• § 2282.5 — (a) The development of work plans for allocation of the funding appropriated in the Budget Act to the department for local assistance for agricultural plant and animal pest and disease prevention shal
• § 2283 — The commissioner, in carrying out his responsibilities under Section 2281, may assist the department in the conduct of surveys or investigations pursuant to Section 461 for the purpose of preventing t
• § 2284 — The commissioner may, with the approval of the board of supervisors, contract with any person or association to certify the condition of a shipment of a product regulated under this code.
• § 2285 — For the purpose of developing necessary information and securing the best results for agriculture in this state, the commissioner may correspond and meet with any interested individual, agency, group,
• § 2286 — The discretionary immunity doctrine as applied to a public entity and an employee of a public entity pursuant to Sections 815.
• § 2287 — Whenever the commissioner determines that it is necessary to more effectively or more efficiently carry out a program listed in subdivision (b) of Section 2282, the commissioner may enter into a mutua
• § 23 — (a) Inasmuch as the planned production of trees, vines, rose bushes, ornamental plants, floricultural crops, and other horticultural crops is distinguishable from the production of other products of t
• § 23.5 — The commercial production of aquatic plants and animals propagated and raised by a registered aquaculturist pursuant to Section 15101 of the Fish and Game Code in the state is a growing industry and p
• § 23.6 — The Legislature hereby finds and declares that greenhouse production of floricultural, ornamental, or other nursery and agricultural products in the state is a growing industry that provides valuable
• § 23.7 — The Legislature hereby finds and declares that vermiculture in the state is a growing industry and that use of vermiculture and vermiculture by-products for the commercial purpose of producing agricul
• § 230 — As used in this article: (a) “Advisory body” means the advisory body for each individual agriculture program.
• § 23001 — The provisions of this division, including the payment of fees, are applicable to all state and county institutions which are engaging in livestock operations.
• § 2301 — A county veterinarian may be appointed by the board of supervisors whenever the public welfare demands the services of such veterinarian.
• § 2302 — The veterinarian shall serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors.
• § 23021 — The director shall enforce this division.
• § 23041 — The director may make any necessary investigations relative to reported violations of this division, pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 11180), Chapter 2, Part 1, Division 3, Title 2 of th
• § 23043 — Any agent of the department or any peace officer may, for the purpose of making an investigation, do any of the following: (a) Stop any conveyance which is transporting on any public thoroughfare any
• § 23044 — Any expense which is incurred pursuant to Section 23043 shall be paid by the owner.
• § 23045 — Any animal which is seized by, or comes into the possession of an inspector pursuant to this division shall be disposed of pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 17001), Part 1, Division 9 of
• § 23071 — Every person that violates any provision of this division is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one tho
• § 23091 — Any person that violates any provision of this division or any regulation which is issued pursuant to it is liable civilly for a penalty in an amount not to exceed a sum of five hundred dollars ($500)
• § 23092 — The Attorney General shall, upon complaint by the director, or may upon his own initiative, if after examination of the complaint and evidence he believes a violation has occurred, bring an action for
• § 23093 — The Attorney General shall, upon complaint by the director, or may upon his own initiative, if after examination of the complaint and evidence he believes a violation has occurred, bring an action in
• § 231 — The Legislature finds and declares that the maintenance of agriculture funded programs described in subdivision (b) of Section 230 is necessary to ensure the consuming public of a continuous and safe
• § 23121 — Any money in the Department of Agriculture Fund which is derived pursuant to this division may be expended for the administration and enforcement of any of the provisions of this code stated in Sectio
• § 23122 — The director shall, at least once each month, report to the State Controller the total amount of any money which is collected for fees, penalties, judgments or otherwise.
• § 23123 — A civil action may be brought by the director to recover any fee, penalty, or other money that may become due pursuant to this division.
• § 232 — The Agriculture Trust Fund is hereby created.
• § 2321 — The veterinarian shall receive a salary which is fixed by the board of supervisors.
• § 23251 — Any person that desires to use a brand on horses, mules, burros, or sheep shall be governed by the same provisions and procedures with reference to such animals as are made applicable to the branding
• § 23251.1 — For the purposes of this article, “brand” also includes a design which is made by applying a super-cold iron that permanently causes white hair growth or a bald mark on the animal.
• § 23252 — Any person that owns a registered cattle brand may use the same brand on the same location on horses, mules, burros, sheep, or swine if it is not in conflict with a previously registered brand.
• § 23281 — Brands for swine may be recorded pursuant to the same provisions and procedures as are made applicable to the recording of brands for cattle in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 20601) of Division 10
• § 233 — (a) The trust fund consists of moneys transferred by the director from the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, including all income therefrom.
• § 234 — The trust fund is created for the exclusive purpose of implementing and continuing the agricultural programs for which the funds were collected.
• § 23401 — Inspection of horses, mules, and burros for shipment out of the state may be made at the request of the owner in the same manner and for the same fees as are provided for bovine animals pursuant to Ch
• § 23404 — A certificate of inspection shall not be issued unless a bill of sale or other proof of ownership is exhibited at the time of the inspection.
• § 23405 — Every slaughterer of horses, mules, or burros shall have on file in his office for a period of one year after slaughter the original bill of sale of the animals purchased and slaughtered by him.
• § 2341 — The veterinarian shall act under the supervision of the director.
• § 2342 — The veterinarian shall enforce throughout the county all of the provisions of this code which relate to the health and sanitary surroundings of livestock, poultry, and rabbits.
• § 2343 — The veterinarian may establish such quarantine, sanitary, and other regulations within his jurisdiction as he deems necessary.
• § 2344 — The veterinarian shall attend such meetings as are deemed necessary and advisable by the board of supervisors.
• § 235 — Each agricultural program specified in subdivision (b) of Section 230 with funds contained in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund shall participate in the trust fund unless an entity is design
• § 2350 — (a) For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: (1) “Managerial employee” means a person who meets all of the following criteria: (A) Has management authority with responsibility to
• § 236 — The beneficiaries of the trust are the agricultural programs with money contained in the trust fund.
• § 237 — The trust fund shall continue in existence for as long as any of the agricultural programs specified in subdivision (b) of Section 230 continues to exist.
• § 238 — It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the advisory body for each of the identified agricultural programs is intended to represent and further the interest of a particul
• § 238.5 — The chairperson of each advisory body shall advise the director on the administration of the trust fund, including, but not limited to, the amount of the fund to be applied to program closures, unanti
• § 23801 — A person shall not buy, sell, or accept a horse, mule, burro, or sheep, the carcass of any such animal from which the hide or skin has not been removed, or the hide or skin of such animal, unless the
• § 23802 — The failure of the seller or donor to give a written bill of sale or written instrument to the buyer or donee pursuant to Section 23801 does not have any effect upon either of the following: (a) The v
• § 239 — All trust fund activities shall be subject to an audit at least once every two years by an auditing firm selected by the director in accordance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2
• § 239.5 — Any money that is deposited pursuant to Section 232, which the director determines is available for investment, may be invested or reinvested in any of the securities described in Article 1 (commencin
• § 23981 — A person shall not transport any sheep, unless the sheep are accompanied by a bill of lading which shows all of the following: (a) The name of the owner of the sheep.
• § 24 — It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the provisions of this section are enacted in the exercise of the power of this state for the purpose of protecting and furthering
• § 24.5 — Inasmuch as plants growing in native stands or planted for ornamental purposes contribute to the environmental and public health and welfare needs of the people of the state, the Legislature hereby fi
• § 240 — The moneys in the trust fund shall be disbursed only to pay for costs arising from unanticipated occurrences associated with administering self-funded programs.
• § 240.5 — This article shall be liberally construed.
• § 24000 — The Legislature finds and declares the following: (a) That the public has a valuable interest in public equine events and public horse sales.
• § 24001 — For purposes of this chapter: (a) “Event” means a public equine event or public horse sale that is held in the state, including a cutting horse competition, an endurance riding competition, a competit
• § 24002 — The secretary has jurisdiction of all events under this chapter and shall administer and enforce this chapter.
• § 24003 — Except as otherwise prohibited by law, the full use of modern therapeutic measures for the improvement and protection of the health of the horses is permitted.
• § 24004 — A horse shall not be shown in any class at an event if it has been administered in any manner a prohibited substance or permissible substance in violation of this chapter.
• § 24005 — The trainer or owner, or both the trainer and owner, in the absence of substantial evidence to the contrary, is responsible for a horse’s condition and is charged with knowledge of the provisions cont
• § 24006 — A trainer, owner, or both the trainer and owner, event manager, or any person who administers, attempts to administer, instructs, authorizes, aids, conspires with another to administer, or employs any
• § 24007 — (a) In addition to any other penalty or fine prescribed by law, a trainer or owner, or both the trainer and owner, of a horse found to have received a prohibited substance or permissible substance in
• § 24008 — A horse at an event is subject to examination under the direction of a licensed veterinarian of the department or agent of the licensed veterinarian.
• § 24009 — Whether a horse is in competition or not, refusal to submit a horse in an event for examination, or refusal to cooperate with the licensed veterinarian, or his or her technicians and agents, shall con
• § 24010 — If the chemical analysis of blood, urine, saliva, or other samples taken from a horse indicate the presence of a prohibited substance or permissible substance or any metabolite or derivative thereof,
• § 24011 — (a) A horse that has received a prohibited substance shall not be eligible for show, competition, or sale, unless the following requirements have been met and the facts requested are submitted to the
• § 24011.6 — The therapeutic administration of a permissible substance is permitted before and during all events except public auctions, provided that the dosage does not exceed any limits, or result in levels tha
• § 24012 — (a) (1) To provide funds for enforcement of this chapter, the event manager of every event shall charge and collect the applicable fee for each horse entered or exhibited in the event, and each horse
• § 24013 — (a) The secretary shall adopt those reasonable rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out this chapter.
• § 24013.5 — (a) The secretary shall appoint an advisory committee to serve without compensation.
• § 24014 — It is the intent of the Legislature that each of the persons appointed to the advisory committee pursuant to Section 24013.
• § 24015 — (a) Every event shall be registered with the department, unless otherwise prescribed by the secretary by regulation.
• § 24016 — No provision contained in this chapter shall in any way affect existing statutes governing horseracing or affect horse sales or horse auction sales when such sales are solely for the sale of racehorse
• § 24017 — This chapter shall not apply to any horse one year of age or less entered in any public horse sale, if public notice of the administering of any drug or medication has been given as prescribed by the
• § 24018 — The secretary may accept on behalf of the state, donations of money from any person, association, or agency interested in the control of drugging of horses.
• § 241 — The director may charge any bureau, division, board, or other agency of the department which is supported otherwise than by the appropriations from the General Fund its proportionate share of the admi
• § 24101 — This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Equine Protection Act of 1991.
• § 24102 — For purposes of this chapter: (a) “Animal” means a horse, pony, mule, or burro.
• § 24103 — There is in the department a program of equine protection and identification.
• § 24104 — Each sheriff or other officer to whom a complaint that relates to the loss or theft of any animal is made shall, in a timely manner, transmit to the Bureau of Livestock Identification a report that co
• § 24104.5 — The Bureau of Livestock Identification shall compile a report on information received pursuant to Section 24104.
• § 24105 — No investigator of the program or any other employee of the department, in enforcing this chapter, shall be required to conduct any investigation that involves the theft of any animal.
• § 24106 — (a) Before an animal may be sold at an auction, the operator of the auction yard shall determine whether the animal has an implanted microchip or has been tattooed or branded with an identifying mark.
• § 24107 — Every operator of an auction yard or dealer who handles animals destined for slaughter shall keep a written record of all sales and purchases made in the course of conducting the business for at least
• § 24108 — Any person who does not keep the written records required by this chapter or who refuses, upon demand of any investigator of the program or any peace officer, to show the record, to allow copies to be
• § 24109 — (a) No animal, whether branded or not, shall be shipped, transported, hauled, or delivered for slaughter, unless it is inspected by an inspector of the program.
• § 24110 — An inspector shall seize any animal for which a valid bill of sale containing the information designated in Section 24106 is not provided.
• § 24111 — Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to remove from the possession of an inspector any animal seized or which is otherwise in the possession of an inspector.
• § 24112 — If the animal which is seized or otherwise in the possession of the inspector is branded, the director shall cause a search to be made of the brand records to ascertain the owner.
• § 24113 — If the brands or marks are recorded, the director shall immediately, by letter, notify the person in whose name the brands or marks are recorded.
• § 24114 — If the owner cannot be ascertained, the director shall cause a notice of the seizure of the animal to remain posted for a period of 14 days on a bulletin board in each office of the Bureau of Livestoc
• § 24115 — Any person that claims ownership of the animal may, at any time, but not later than 14 days after the first posting of the notice, file his or her proof of ownership with the director and the director
• § 24116 — If ownership is proved to the satisfaction of the director, the animal shall be returned to the owner upon payment by the owner of all expenses which were incurred in the handling of the animal.
• § 24117 — If the animal at any time while in the possession of an inspector is in a condition which requires immediate disposal, the animal may be disposed of by the director.
• § 24118 — If after 14 days from the date of the first posting of notice, no satisfactory proof of ownership of the animal has been made, or if the owner fails or refuses to pay all expenses which were incurred,
• § 24119 — The proceeds from the sale of any animal shall be paid into, and the expenses of holding, advertising, sale, and other incidental expenses shall be paid from, the Department of Food and Agriculture Fu
• § 24120 — If any person shall, within one year after the date of the sale, prove to the satisfaction of the director his or her ownership of an animal which was sold pursuant to this article, the director shall
• § 24121 — If the inspector of the program determines that the person who offers the animal for inspection is in lawful possession, the inspector shall issue a certificate of inspection.
• § 24122 — The certificate of inspection shall be signed by the inspector of the program and shall indicate all of the following: (a) The place and date of inspection and the number of animals inspected.
• § 24123 — It is unlawful for any inspector to issue a certificate of inspection unless he or she personally makes the inspection between sunrise and sunset.
• § 24124 — One copy of the certificate of inspection required by this chapter shall accompany the shipment of animals.
• § 24125 — Any person who transports an animal destined for slaughter who does not have a copy of the certificate of inspection as required pursuant to this chapter or who refuses, upon demand of any investigato
• § 24126 — It is unlawful for any person to remove any animal and substitute another for it, or to add any other animal or transport an animal from any lot of animals for which a certificate has been issued, unt
• § 24127 — (a) Each dealer who handles animals destined for slaughter, and who ships 15 or more animals at a time for slaughter, shall pay the inspector a service fee of twenty-five dollars ($25), in addition to
• § 24128 — (a) The inspector shall make a memorandum which shows the number, sex, breed, color, approximate height and weight, approximate age, natural marks and identifying scars, and a description of each bran
• § 24129 — The department shall maintain inspection certificates for a period of five years in a manner that shall disclose the number of animals that have been inspected.