(a) Upon recommendation of the commissioner and upon making a finding that extraordinary circumstances have resulted in the need for inspection of imported fruits, nuts, or vegetables pursuant to this division, the board of supervisors of a county may establish a schedule of fees to be charged to the importer, by the commissioner, for the recovery of costs connected with the commissioner’s inspection in order to assure compliance with this division. This authority applies only to inspections conducted at ports of entry or points of initial availability inspected by the commissioner.
(b) (1) The authority of the board of supervisors to establish a schedule of fees under this section applies only when a mandatory inspection or certification program presently exists in the state for the same commodity and where a fee is collected pursuant to authority granted in Article 5 (commencing with Section 42761) or Article 6 (commencing with Section 42791).
(2) In no case may the fees established for inspection of imported fruits, nuts, and vegetables exceed the fees set for the mandatory inspection or certification program.
(3) The secretary may adopt regulations, including, but not limited to, establishing recommended county enforcement cost recovery fees.
(c) In addition to any other penalties available under the law, the commissioner may place a hold order on any lot of fruits, nuts, or vegetables on which he or she has assessed a fee pursuant to this section if the importer has failed to pay that fee.
(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 402, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1998.)