SECTIONS 108850-108855

108850.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The program maintained by the United States Food and DrugAdministration to regulate the amount of lead and cadmium releasedfrom ceramic, metal, and other dishware and tableware is inadequateto protect Californians from the importation and sale of unsafetableware in this state. (b) Recent inspection and sampling conducted by local and statehealth departments in California has demonstrated that significantamounts of unsafe tableware are in fact being imported and sold inCalifornia. (c) The standards established by the federal government foracceptable lead and cadmium release are likely inadequate to fullyprotect public health and may be inconsistent with requirements thatalready exist in California law governing exposure to lead andcadmium. (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department,first, establish its own program to protect the public from unsafetableware and, second, develop standards for lead and cadmium releasefrom tableware that are consistent with existing state law.108855.  For purposes of this chapter the following definitionsshall apply: (a) "Director" means the Director of Health Services. (b) "Department" means the State Department of Health Services. (c) "Distributor" means any person who brings tableware intoCalifornia from another state for sale. (d) "Importer" means any person who brings tableware intoCalifornia from another country for sale. (e) "Manufacturer" means any person who makes tableware sold inCalifornia. (f) "Small business" means any manufacturer, importer, ordistributor whose gross annual revenue for the sale of tableware isthirty thousand dollars ($30,000) or less. (g) "Tableware" means any glazed ceramic, enamel metalware, orpewter article, container, or utensil that may be used in thepreparation, serving, or storage of food or drink.