(a) Product manufacturers, upon written notification from the Department, are required to certify to the Department that all of the rigid plastic packaging containers holding their products sold or offered for sale in California comply with the rigid plastic packaging container requirements, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 42310 or 42310.3. Product manufacturers shall submit the information described in Section 17945.3 in their certifications.

(b) Container manufacturers' certifications provided to product manufacturers shall include the information described in Section 17945.4.

(c) A product manufacturer's completed certification, including any applicable container manufacturer certifications, must be postmarked or sent electronically no later than April 1 of the calendar year immediately following the measurement period.

(d) Prior to the end of the measurement period, a product manufacturer may request an extension for submittal of its certification of up to 30 calendar days for cause. An extension may be granted by the Department only if the product manufacturer provides documentary evidence to justify an extension based on criteria such as corporate acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, difficulty obtaining container information, or catastrophic acts of God, or other criteria deemed acceptable upon the Department's evaluation.

(e) If the Department receives a certification that, upon review, does not include all of the information required by this Article, the Department will notify the product manufacturer and state what additional information or documentation is required. The product manufacturer will then have 30 calendar days after receipt of the notice to provide the required information or documentation. One 30-calendar day extension may be granted for cause by the Department upon request.

(f) At any time, the Department may request information from a product manufacturer outside of any notice of incomplete certification. In such cases, the Department shall mail a written request, and the product manufacturer shall have 60 calendar days following the date of receipt of the request to supply the information.