California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 7 - Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery › Chapter 4 - Resource Conservation Programs › Article 7 - Reusable Grocery Bags › Section 17988.3 - Submittal and Resubmittal of a Proof of Certification

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) A reusable grocery bag producer shall
				  submit a proof of certification to the Reusable Grocery Bag Reporting System
				  for each type of reusable grocery bag that it manufactures, imports, sells, or
				  distributes and that is provided to a store in the state for sale or
				  distribution at the point of sale. The proof of certification shall have been
				  completed by a third-party certification entity within three months prior to
				  the date it is submitted to the department and it shall include an
				  accreditation number confirming the third-party certification entity is an
				  accredited ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory or an ISO/IEC 17065 certification
				  body.
(b) A proof of certification,
				  completed by a third-party certification entity, shall be printed in English
				  and shall include documentation to verify that a reusable grocery bag meets
				  each requirement specific to the reusable grocery bag material type, including,
				  but not limited to:
(1) Compliance with the
				  requirements of section
				  42281
				  of the Public Resources Code, including identification of the test methods
				  used, corresponding test results for the reusable grocery bag, and the
				  following, as applicable:
(A) Test results
				  for all inks, dyes, pigments, decals, or other methods used in the decoration
				  of a reusable grocery bag pursuant to section
				  42281(a)(5)
				  of the Public Resources Code. A proof of certification may include test results
				  for a suite of inks (e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow, and key), dyes, pigments,
				  decals, or other methods that may be used in any variation or combination for
				  the decoration of a type of reusable grocery bag and would constitute an
				  aesthetic change.
(B) Images of the
				  complete front, back, and gusset of the reusable grocery bag that clearly show
				  the handles, style of bag, and the colors of inks, dyes, pigments, decals, or
				  other images printed on the bag. A reusable grocery bag producer may submit
				  images of aesthetic changes made to a certified reusable grocery bag.
(C) Images of the reusable grocery bag or
				  affixed tags that demonstrate the labeling requirements specified in sections
				  42281(a)(4) and
				  42281(b)(1)(D)
				  of the Public Resources Code. The text for these labelling requirements shall
				  be printed in English, legible, and may include more than one phrase or
				  sentence.
(D) Pursuant to Public
				  Resources Code section
				  42281(b)(1), the
				  percentage of postconsumer recycled material and the numbers used in the
				  equation to calculate that percentage. The percentage of postconsumer recycled
				  material shall be determined for each type of reusable grocery bag using the
				  following equation:
Percent PCR =
					 WPCR/(
WRGB x
					 NRGB
)
where:
WPCR = the total weight in pounds of
					 postconsumer recycled material used in each type of reusable grocery bag
WRGB = the weight in pounds of the
					 specific type of reusable grocery bag
NRGB = the number of reusable
					 grocery bags distributed in California for each type of reusable grocery
					 bag