California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110070

Whenever public health or other considerations in this state require, the department may adopt, upon its own motion, or upon the petition of any interested party, regulations that prescribe tolerances, included but not limited to zero tolerances, for poisonous or deleterious substances, food additives, pesticide chemicals, or color additives. The department may also prescribe the conditions under which a food additive or a color additive may be safely used and may grant exemptions for a food additive or color additive when it is to be used solely for investigational or experimental purposes.

A petitioner shall establish, by data submitted to the department, that a necessity exists for such regulations and that its effect will not be detrimental to the public health. If the data furnished by the petitioner is not sufficient to allow the department to determine whether such regulations should be adopted, the department may require additional data to be submitted. Failure to comply with this requirement shall be sufficient grounds to deny the request.