(a) A respondent may contest a notice of adverse determination, including a notice to deny a right, authority, license or privilege or the renewal thereof, for any violation specified in Section 2322 within 30 calendar days from the date of the notice of proposed action by submitting a written request to the Legal Office of Hearings and Appeals of the Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street, Room 315, Sacramento, California 95814. Any objection to the Department's selection of the informal hearing procedure shall be made in writing to the Legal Office of Hearings and Appeals and shall be resolved by the Hearing Officer prior to the hearing.

(b) Failure to present a timely request for a hearing constitutes a waiver of the respondent's right to contest the notice of an adverse determination.

(c) If the notice of adverse determination places a hold on a fertilizing material product, or requires a person to cease operations, the notice of adverse determination shall remain in effect pending the outcome of the informal hearing.