(a)  No used tires that have been imported into the United States shall be imported into this state, for purposes of sale, resale or disposal, unless they are inspected and certified as free from mosquitos in any stage of development by the department or its designee. Nothing in this section is intended to require inspection of each tire entering the state. The inspection shall be conducted using standard sampling procedures.

(b)  Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if a shipment of tires imported into the United States has been inspected in a state other than California and certified as free from mosquitos in any state of development by persons meeting the federal certified pesticide applicator qualifications contained in 7 U.S.C. § 136b, then the department shall review the certification to determine whether or not it is adequate. For the purposes of this subdivision, “adequate” means that the department shall confirm that the certification was performed by persons meeting the qualifications referred to in this subdivision and that the certification applies to the shipment of tires imported into this state.

If the certification is determined by the department to be adequate, the department shall make a written finding to that effect, and the inspection referred to in subdivision (a) shall not be required. The department may charge and collect a reasonable fee, not to exceed fifty dollars ($50) per shipment, to cover its costs incurred pursuant to this subdivision.

If the certification is determined by the department to be inadequate, the inspection referred to in subdivision (a) shall be required.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996. Conditionally inoperative as provided in Section 116225.)