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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 7Ch. 1.5Art. 7§ 12672 Pesticide Preharvest Interval Enforcement

§ 12672 Pesticide Preharvest Interval Enforcement

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 12672 Pesticide Preharvest Interval Enforcement

This law says that if farmers use pesticides on their crops, they must wait a certain amount of time before harvesting. If they don't wait, the government can stop them from selling the crops or take the crops away until it's safe.

Key Takeaways

  • •Farmers must wait the time listed on pesticide labels before harvesting crops.
  • •If they harvest too soon, the government can stop them from selling the crops.
  • •The crops will be held until the waiting time is over and tests show they are safe.

Example

A farmer sprays pesticides on his strawberries to keep bugs away.

The pesticide label says to wait 7 days before picking the strawberries. If the farmer picks them after only 3 days, the government can stop him from selling them until the 7 days are up and tests show the strawberries are safe to eat.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 12672 Pesticide Preharvest Interval Enforcement

The director or commissioner may prohibit the harvest of any produce or may seize and hold any lot of produce when a preharvest interval specified in the registered labeling of a pesticide applied to the produce has not been complied with. Except as provided in Section 12673, this harvest prohibition shall not extend beyond the expiration of the preharvest interval. Lots of produce so seized shall be held until the preharvest interval has expired and the director has determined that any pesticide residue is within a permissible tolerance. (Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 288, Sec. 3.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

preharvest intervalpermissible tolerance

Related Statutes

  • § 12671 Pesticide Residue Limits
  • § 12673 Pesticide Residue Harvest Ban
  • § 12581 Director Produce Sampling Authority
  • § 12606 Pesticide Residue Release Rules
  • § 12614 Disposal Of Produce With Excess Pesticide Residue

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 12672.
View Official Source