The powers and duties of the committee shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(a) Identifying rices that have characteristics of commercial impact.
(b) Recommending to the secretary proposed regulations establishing terms and conditions for planting, producing, processing, or handling rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a), including, but not limited to, seed application requirements, field buffer zones, handling requirements, seed testing, and identity preservation requirements. All rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be subject to an identity preservation program.
(c) Reviewing the efficacy of terms, conditions, and identity preservation programs imposed on the planting, producing, processing, or handling of rice identified pursuant to subdivision (a) using the most current industry standards and generally accepted scientific principles.
(d) Recommending to the secretary on all matters pertaining to this chapter, including, but not limited to, the amendment or repeal of regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, enforcement of this chapter, and setting the assessment rates.
(e) The committee shall review each rice identified as having characteristics of commercial impact not less often than every two years, or upon receipt of a petition from a handler of rice. A handler of rice identified as having characteristics of commercial impact may not file more than one petition on a particular variety of rice in any two-year period.
(f) Neither the recommendations of the committee nor any regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be construed as establishing any production, processing, or market tolerance.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 414, Sec. 16. Effective January 1, 2009.)