Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 29211

In those instances when the inspector has sealed the infested hive after making a field determination, if a beekeeper appeals the inspector’s field determination, the owner or bailee of the apiary and the inspector shall jointly break the seal and take the sample for appeal. If the band is broken in the absence of the inspector, no appeal shall be valid and the infestation shall be abated as described in the abatement notice.