Section 1.

1. This act shall be known as the “Food and Agricultural Code.” (Amended By Stats. 1972, Ch. 225.)

Section 10.

10. Whenever any notice, report, statement, or record is required by this code, it shall be in writing unless it is expressly provided that it may be oral. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 10.5.

10.5. It is unlawful for any person to alter any record or document in the office of a commissioner required to be filed pursuant to any provision of this code or pursuant to rules and regulations authorized by this code, without the approval of the commissioner or an authorized deputy. (Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. […]

Section 11.

11. Whenever any notice, report, statement, or record is required by this code to be kept or made in writing, it shall be in the English language. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 12.

12. Unless otherwise specifically provided, whenever any document is required or permitted by this code to be recorded, it shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the property or thing which is affected is situated. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 13.

13. Whenever any power or authority is given by this code to any person, it may be exercised by any deputy, inspector, or agent who is duly authorized by him. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 14.

14. Wherever, pursuant to this code, any state department, officer, board, agency, committee, or commission is authorized to adopt rules and regulations, such regulations shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340 ) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to the extent that that […]

Section 15.

15. Whenever reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law of this state, the reference applies to all amendments and additions to it. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 16.

16. Division, part, chapter, and article headings do not in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of this code. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 17.

17. If any provision of this code or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the code or the application of the provision to any other person or circumstance is not affected. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 18.

18. In all matters which arise under this code, proof of the fact of possession by any person engaged in the sale of a commodity establishes a rebuttable presumption that the commodity is for sale. This presumption is a presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence. (Amended by Stats. 1967, Ch. 262.)

Section 19.

19. Unless the context otherwise requires, the present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future, the present tense. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 20.

20. Unless the context otherwise requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 21.

21. Unless the context otherwise requires, the singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Section 22.

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 considered a branch of the agricultural industry of the state for the purposes of any law which provides for the benefit […]

Section 23.

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 the soil only in relation to the time elapsing before maturity, plants and floricultural crops that are being produced by nurseries, whether in open fields or in […]

Section 23.5.

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 provides a healthful and nutritious food product, and, as a commercial operation, utilizes management, land, water, and feed as do other […]

Section 23.6.

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 agricultural products and year-round employment for agricultural workers. The Legislature further declares that greenhouse production is an efficient self-contained production system that offers protections for the […]

Section 23.7.

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 agricultural commodities should be encouraged. As used in this section, “vermiculture” is the raising of animals belonging to the order Oligochaeta, class Chaetopoda, phylum Annelida. […]

Section 24.

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 the public health and welfare. It is further declared that the floriculture and nursery industry of this state is affected […]