Section 1601. Legislative findings and purpose

Pesticides have proved
  valuable in the control of harmful insects, weeds, fungi and other forms
  of plant and animal life. When used indiscriminately, however, they  may
  injure crops, whether or not directly treated, contaminate the air, soil
  and  water,  thus  upsetting  the  desired  ecological balance, and harm
  humans, fish and wildlife by direct poisoning or by gradual accumulation
  of pesticide residues in tissues. It is  the  purpose  of  this  article
  better  to  protect  the  public  health and welfare and to minimize the
  potential pesticide hazard to man and his environment,  consistent  with
  the  public  interest  in the benefits to be derived from their safe and
  scientific application, by establishing a  pesticide  control  board  to
  formulate  over-all  policy  in  the  state's  regulatory  programs  and
  coordinate state efforts to control the use of pesticides.