Section 1326.10 - General Requirements for Accredited Certifying Agents(a) In order to receive and maintain accreditation, a private entity accredited as a certifying agent under this Chapter must:(1) Have sufficient expertise in covered animal production and covered product distribution techniques to fully comply with and implement the terms and conditions of the certification program established under this Chapter;(2) Carry out the provisions of the Act and this Chapter, including the provisions of certifying operations as described in sections 1326.3 through 1326.8 of this Article;(3) Use a sufficient number of adequately trained personnel, including inspectors, and certification review personnel, to comply with and implement the certification program established under this Chapter;(4) Ensure that its responsibly connected persons, employees, and contractors with inspection, analysis, and decision-making responsibilities have sufficient expertise in covered animal production and covered product distribution to successfully perform the duties assigned;(5) Provide sufficient information to persons seeking certification to enable them to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act and this Chapter;(6) Maintain all records pursuant to section 1326.17(b) of this Article and make all such records available for inspection and copying during normal business hours by authorized representatives of the Department;(7) Not disclose any information collected pursuant to this Article that was obtained while certifying producers or distributors for compliance with this Chapter to any third-party without approval by the Department. Any request to an accredited certifying agent for records or documents must be submitted to the Department for review and approval pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250 et seq.);(8) Prevent conflicts of interest by:(A) Not certifying a production or distribution operation if the certifying agent or a responsibly connected party of such certifying agent has or has held a commercial interest in the production or distribution operation, including an immediate family interest or the provision of consulting services, within the 12-month period prior to the application for certification;(B) Excluding any person, including contractors, with conflicts of interest from work, discussions, and decisions in all stages of the certification process and the monitoring of certified production or distribution operations for all entities in which such person has or has held a commercial interest, including an immediate family interest or the provision of consulting services, within the 12-month period prior to the application for certification;(C) Not permitting any employee, inspector, contractor, or other personnel to accept payment, gifts, or favors of any kind, other than prescribed fees, from any business inspected.(9) Refrain from making false or misleading claims about its accreditation status, the accreditation program for certifying agents, or the nature or qualities of covered products; and(10) Submit to the Department a copy of: (A) Within 14 calendar days of creation, any notice of proposed suspension or revocation and notice of suspension or revocation sent pursuant to section 1326.20 of this Article; and(B) Annual report as described in section 1326.17(a) of this Article including the name, address, and phone number of each operation granted initial certification pursuant to section 1326.6 of this Article or an updated certification pursuant to section 1326.8 of this Article, during the preceding year.(b) A private entity accredited as a certifying agent must:(1) Hold the Department harmless for any failure on the part of the certifying agent to carry out the provisions of the Act and this Chapter; and(2) Transfer to the Department all records or copies of records concerning the person's certification activities related to this Article in the event that the certifying agent dissolves or loses its accreditation; provided, that, such transfer shall not apply to a merger, sale, or other transfer of ownership of a certifying agent.(c) No certifying agent under this Article shall exclude from participation in or deny the benefits of certification to any person due to discrimination because of race, color, sex, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, source of income, or marital or family status.(d) A private entity seeking accreditation under this Article must sign and return a statement of agreement prepared by the Department which affirms that, if granted accreditation as a certifying agent under this Chapter, the applicant will carry out the provisions of the Act and this Chapter, including but not limited to all applicable requirements of this section.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 3, § 1326.10
1. New section filed 9-1-2022; operative 9-1-2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2022, No. 35). Filing deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(a) extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-71-20. Note: Authority cited: Section 25993, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 25990 and 25991, Health and Safety Code.
1. New section filed 9-1-2022; operative 9/1/2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2022, No. 35). Filing deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(a) extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-71-20.