Food labeling: olive oil.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to enforce various laws regarding the manufacture, blending, production, and sale of olive oil. Existing law requires that olive oil produced, processed, sold, offered for sale, given away, or possessed in this state, that indicates on its label "California Olive Oil"or otherwise indicates that California is the source of the oil be made of oil derived solely from olives grown in California. Existing law requires any olive oil produced, processed, sold, offered for sale, given away, or possessed in this state, that indicates on its label that it is from an area that is one of the approved American Viticultural Areas under federal law, to be made of oil 75% of which is derived solely from olives grown in that approved American Viticultural Area. A violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill would delete the provision regarding olive oil from American Viticultural Areas and, instead, require that olive oil labeled as coming from a specific region in California be made of oil at least 85% of which, by weight, is derived solely from olives grown in the specified region. The bill would also require that olive oil labeled as coming from a specific estate in California be made of oil at least 95% of which, by weight, is derived solely from olives grown on the specified estate. By creating new crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.