The permits and regulations program develops all regulations administered by Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services and develops associated legally required documents such as notices, statements of reason, orders, and certificates of compliance. This program also issues state permits involving agricultural pests and quarantine commodities as authorized under administrative regulations and the Food and Agricultural Code. This program also recommends approval or disapproval of applications for Federal permits which are issued by the USDA. These permits concern movement into California of plant pests, foreign soil, foreign postentry quarantine plant material, genetically engineered organisms, and foreign commodities normally prohibited entry into the United States.
The program has 30 days to notify an applicant if their application is complete or deficient.
The Department of Food and Agriculture has established time periods for the processing of permit applications, in compliance with Government Code Sections 15374-15378. Failure to comply with these time periods may be appealed to the Director of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street, P.O. Box 942871, Sacramento, CA 94271-0001, pursuant to regulations set forth in Title 3, California Code of Regulations, Section 301. Under certain circumstances, the Director may order that the applicant receive a reimbursement of filing fees.