Bill Text: IL HB2486 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Chaptered


Bill Title: Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that a home kitchen operation does not include a person who produces or packages non-potentially hazardous baked goods for sale by a religious, charitable, or nonprofit organization for fundraising purposes. Adds additional requirements in order to qualify as a home kitchen operation. Makes changes concerning the jurisdiction of the local governing body over home kitchen operations. Defines a term. Removes a provision prohibiting certain types of jams and jellies from cottage food operations. Increases the gross receipt threshold of exempt food from $25,000 to $36,000. Allows the Department to adopt rules to implement the requirements of the amendatory Act.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-6)

Status: (Passed) 2015-07-30 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0191 [HB2486 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB2486-Chaptered.html



Public Act 099-0191
HB2486 EnrolledLRB099 10188 JLK 30412 b
AN ACT concerning health.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act is
amended by changing Sections 3.3 and 4 and by renumbering and
changing Section 3.4 as added by Public Act 98-643 as follows:
(410 ILCS 625/3.3)
Sec. 3.3. Farmers' markets.
(a) The General Assembly finds as follows:
(1) Farmers' markets, as defined in subsection (b) of
this Section, provide not only a valuable marketplace for
farmers and food artisans to sell their products directly
to consumers, but also a place for consumers to access
fresh fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products.
(2) Farmers' markets serve as a stimulator for local
economies and for thousands of new businesses every year,
allowing farmers to sell directly to consumers and capture
the full retail value of their products. They have become
important community institutions and have figured in the
revitalization of downtown districts and rural
communities.
(3) Since 1999, the number of farmers' markets has
tripled and new ones are being established every year.
There is a lack of consistent regulation from one county to
the next, resulting in confusion and discrepancies between
counties regarding how products may be sold.
(4) In 1999, the Department of Public Health published
Technical Information Bulletin/Food #30 in order to
outline the food handling and sanitation guidelines
required for farmers' markets, producer markets, and other
outdoor food sales events.
(5) While this bulletin was revised in 2010, there
continues to be inconsistencies, confusion, and lack of
awareness by consumers, farmers, markets, and local health
authorities of required guidelines affecting farmers'
markets from county to county.
(b) For the purposes of this Section:
"Department" means the Department of Public Health.
"Director" means the Director of Public Health.
"Farmers' market" means a common facility or area where the
primary purpose is for farmers to gather to sell a variety of
fresh fruits and vegetables and other locally produced farm and
food products directly to consumers.
(c) In order to facilitate the orderly and uniform
statewide implementation of the standards established in the
Department of Public Health's administrative rules for this
Act, the Farmers' Market Task Force shall be formed by the
Director to assist the Department in implementing statewide
administrative regulations for farmers' markets.
(d) This Act does not intend and shall not be construed to
limit the power of counties, municipalities, and other local
government units to regulate farmers' markets for the
protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare,
including, but not limited to, licensing requirements and time,
place, and manner restrictions. This Act provides for a
statewide scheme for the orderly and consistent interpretation
of the Department of Public Health administrative rules
pertaining to the safety of food and food products sold at
farmers' markets.
(e) The Farmers' Market Task Force shall consist of at
least 24 members appointed within 60 days after the effective
date of this Section. Task Force members shall consist of:
(1) one person appointed by the President of the
Senate;
(2) one person appointed by the Minority Leader of the
Senate;
(3) one person appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives;
(4) one person appointed by the Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives;
(5) the Director of Public Health or his or her
designee;
(6) the Director of Agriculture or his or her designee;
(7) a representative of a general agricultural
production association appointed by the Department of
Agriculture;
(8) three representatives of local county public
health departments appointed by the Director and selected
from 3 different counties representing each of the
northern, central, and southern portions of this State;
(9) four members of the general public who are engaged
in local farmers' markets appointed by the Director of
Agriculture;
(10) a representative of an association representing
public health administrators appointed by the Director;
(11) a representative of an organization of public
health departments that serve the City of Chicago and the
counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry,
Will, and Winnebago appointed by the Director;
(12) a representative of a general public health
association appointed by the Director;
(13) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
or his or her designee;
(14) the Lieutenant Governor or his or her designee;
and
(15) five farmers who sell their farm products at
farmers' markets appointed by the Lieutenant Governor or
his or her designee.
Task Force members' terms shall be for a period of 2 years,
with ongoing appointments made according to the provisions of
this Section.
(f) The Task Force shall be convened by the Director or his
or her designee. Members shall elect a Task Force Chair and
Co-Chair.
(g) Meetings may be held via conference call, in person, or
both. Three members of the Task Force may call a meeting as
long as a 5-working-day notification is sent via mail, e-mail,
or telephone call to each member of the Task Force.
(h) Members of the Task Force shall serve without
compensation.
(i) The Task Force shall undertake a comprehensive and
thorough review of the current Statutes and administrative
rules that define which products and practices are permitted
and which products and practices are not permitted at farmers'
markets and to assist the Department in developing statewide
administrative regulations for farmers' markets.
(j) The Task Force shall advise the Department regarding
the content of any administrative rules adopted under this
Section and Sections 3.4, 3.5, and 4 of this Act prior to
adoption of the rules. Any administrative rules, except
emergency rules adopted pursuant to Section 5-45 of the
Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, adopted without
obtaining the advice of the Task Force are null and void. If
the Department fails to follow the advice of the Task Force,
the Department shall, prior to adopting the rules, transmit a
written explanation to the Task Force. If the Task Force,
having been asked for its advice, fails to advise the
Department within 90 days after receiving the rules for review,
the rules shall be considered to have been approved by the Task
Force.
(k) The Department of Public Health shall provide staffing
support to the Task Force and shall help to prepare, print, and
distribute all reports deemed necessary by the Task Force.
(l) The Task Force may request assistance from any entity
necessary or useful for the performance of its duties. The Task
Force shall issue a report annually to the Secretary of the
Senate and the Clerk of the House.
(m) The following provisions shall apply concerning
statewide farmers' market food safety guidelines:
(1) The Director, in accordance with this Section,
shall adopt administrative rules (as provided by the
Illinois Administrative Procedure Act) for foods found at
farmers' markets.
(2) The rules and regulations described in this Act
shall be consistently enforced by local health authorities
throughout the State.
(2.5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law
except as provided in this Act, local public health
departments and all other units of local government are
prohibited from creating sanitation guidelines, rules, or
regulations for farmers' markets that are more stringent
than those farmers' market sanitation regulations
contained in the administrative rules adopted by the
Department for the purposes of implementing this Section
3.3 and Sections 3.4, 3.5, and 4 of this Act. Except as
provided for in Sections Section 3.4 and 4 of this Act,
this Act does not intend and shall not be construed to
limit the power of local health departments and other
government units from requiring licensing and permits for
the sale of commercial food products, processed food
products, prepared foods, and potentially hazardous foods
at farmers' markets or conducting related inspections and
enforcement activities, so long as those permits and
licenses do not include unreasonable fees or sanitation
provisions and rules that are more stringent than those
laid out in the administrative rules adopted by the
Department for the purposes of implementing this Section
3.3 and Sections 3.4, 3.5, and 4 of this Act.
(3) In the case of alleged non-compliance with the
provisions described in this Act, local health departments
shall issue written notices to vendors and market managers
of any noncompliance issues.
(4) Produce and food products coming within the scope
of the provisions of this Act shall include, but not be
limited to, raw agricultural products, including fresh
fruits and vegetables; popcorn, grains, seeds, beans, and
nuts that are whole, unprocessed, unpackaged, and
unsprouted; fresh herb springs and dried herbs in bunches;
baked goods sold at farmers' markets; cut fruits and
vegetables; milk and cheese products; ice cream; syrups;
wild and cultivated mushrooms; apple cider and other fruit
and vegetable juices; herb vinegar; garlic-in-oil;
flavored oils; pickles, relishes, salsas, and other canned
or jarred items; shell eggs; meat and poultry; fish;
ready-to-eat foods; commercially produced prepackaged food
products; and any additional items specified in the
administrative rules adopted by the Department to
implement Section 3.3 of this Act.
(n) Local health department regulatory guidelines may be
applied to foods not often found at farmers' markets, all other
food products not regulated by the Department of Agriculture
and the Department of Public Health, as well as live animals to
be sold at farmers' markets.
(o) The Task Force shall issue annual reports to the
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House with
recommendations for the development of administrative rules as
specified. The first report shall be issued no later than
December 31, 2012.
(p) The Department of Public Health and the Department of
Agriculture, in conjunction with the Task Force, shall adopt
administrative rules necessary to implement, interpret, and
make specific the provisions of this Act, including, but not
limited to, rules concerning labels, sanitation, and food
product safety according to the realms of their jurisdiction in
accordance with subsection (j) of this Section. The Task Force
shall submit recommendations for administrative rules to the
Department no later than December 15, 2014.
(q) The Department and the Task Force shall work together
to create a food sampling training and license program as
specified in Section 3.4 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 97-394, eff. 8-16-11; 98-660, eff. 6-23-14.)
(410 ILCS 625/3.6)
Sec. 3.6 3.4. Home kitchen operation.
(a) For the purpose of this Section, "home kitchen
operation" means a person who produces or packages
non-potentially hazardous baked goods food in a kitchen of that
person's primary domestic residence for direct sale by the
owner or a family member. As used in this Section, "baked good"
has the meaning given to that term under subparagraph (C) of
paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 4 of this Act. A
home kitchen operation does not include a person who produces
or packages non-potentially hazardous baked goods for sale by a
religious, charitable, or nonprofit organization for
fundraising purposes; the production or packaging of
non-potentially hazardous baked goods for these purposes is
exempt from the requirements of this Act , or for sale by a
religious, charitable, or nonprofit organization, stored in
the residence where the food is made. The following conditions
must be met in order to qualify as a home kitchen operation:
(1) Monthly gross sales do not exceed $1,000.
(2) The food is not a non-potentially potentially
hazardous baked good food, as described defined in Section
4 of this Act.
(3) A notice is provided to the purchaser that the
product was produced in a home kitchen.
(4) The food package is affixed with a label or other
written notice is provided to the purchaser that includes:
(i) the common or usual name of the food product;
and
(ii) allergen labeling as specified in federal
labeling requirements by the United States Food and
Drug Administration.
(5) The food is sold directly to the consumer.
(6) The food is stored in the residence where it is
produced or packaged.
(b) The Department of Public Health or the health
department of a unit of local government may inspect a home
kitchen operation in the event of a complaint or disease
outbreak.
(c) The requirements of this This Section apply applies
only to a home kitchen operation located in a municipality,
township, or county where the local governing body having the
jurisdiction to enforce this Act or the rules adopted under
this Act has adopted an ordinance authorizing home kitchen
operations the direct sale of baked goods as described in
Section 4 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-643, eff. 6-10-14; revised 10-20-14.)
(410 ILCS 625/4)
Sec. 4. Cottage food operation.
(a) For the purpose of this Section:
"Cottage food operation" means an operation conducted by a
person who produces or packages non-potentially hazardous food
in a kitchen located in that person's primary domestic
residence or another appropriately designed and equipped
residential or commercial-style kitchen on that property for
direct sale by the owner, or a family member, or employee
stored in the residence or appropriately designed and equipped
residential or commercial-style kitchen on that property where
the food is made.
"Department" means the Department of Public Health.
"Farmers' market" means a common facility or area where
farmers gather to sell a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables
and other locally produced farm and food products directly to
consumers.
"Main ingredient" means an agricultural product that is the
defining or distinctive ingredient in a cottage food product,
though not necessarily by predominance of weight.
"Potentially hazardous food" means a food that is
potentially hazardous according to the Department's
administrative rules. Potentially hazardous food (PHF) in
general means a food that requires time and temperature control
for safety (TCS) to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or
toxin formation.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except
as provided in subsections (c), and (d), and (e) of this
Section, neither the Department nor the Department of
Agriculture nor the health department of a unit of local
government may regulate the service of food by a cottage food
operation providing that all of the following conditions are
met:
(1) The food is not a non-potentially potentially
hazardous baked good, jam, jelly, preserve, fruit butter,
dry herb, dry herb blend, or dry tea blend, or similar
product as adopted and specified by Department rules
pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, and is intended
for end-use only. The following provisions shall apply:
(A) The following jams, jellies and preserves are
allowed: apple, apricot, grape, peach, plum, quince,
orange, nectarine, tangerine, blackberry, raspberry,
blueberry, boysenberry, cherry, cranberry, strawberry,
red currants, or a combination of these fruits.
Rhubarb, tomato, and pepper jellies or jams are not
allowed. Any other jams, jellies, or preserves not
listed may be produced by a cottage food operation
provided their recipe has been tested and documented by
a commercial laboratory, at the expense of the cottage
food operation, as being not potentially hazardous,
containing a pH equilibrium of less than 4.6 or has
been specified and adopted as allowed in
administrative rules by the Department pursuant to
subsection (e) of this Section.
(B) The following fruit butters are allowed:
apple, apricot, grape, peach, plum, quince, and prune.
Pumpkin butter, banana butter, and pear butter are not
allowed. Fruit butters not listed may be produced by a
cottage food operation provided their recipe has been
tested and documented by a commercial laboratory, at
the expense of the cottage food operation, as being not
potentially hazardous, containing a pH equilibrium of
less than 4.6 or has been specified and adopted as
allowed in administrative rules by the Department
pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section.
(C) Baked goods, such as, but not limited to,
breads, cookies, cakes, pies, and pastries are
allowed. Only high-acid fruit pies that use the
following fruits are allowed: apple, apricot, grape,
peach, plum, quince, orange, nectarine, tangerine,
blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, boysenberry, cherry,
cranberry, strawberry, red currants or a combination
of these fruits. Fruit pies not listed may be produced
by a cottage food operation provided their recipe has
been tested and documented by a commercial laboratory,
at the expense of the cottage food operation, as being
not potentially hazardous, containing a pH equilibrium
of less than 4.6 or has been specified and adopted as
allowed in administrative rules by the Department
pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section. The
following are potentially hazardous and prohibited
from production and sale by a cottage food operation:
pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, cheesecake, custard
pies, creme pies, and pastries with potentially
hazardous fillings or toppings.
(2) The food is to be sold at a farmers' market, with
the exception that cottage foods that have a locally grown
agricultural product as the main ingredient may be sold on
the farm where the agricultural product is grown or
delivered directly to the consumer.
(3) Gross receipts from the sale of food exempted under
this Section do not exceed $36,000 $25,000 in a calendar
year.
(4) The food packaging conforms to the labeling
requirements of the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
and includes the following information on the label of each
of its products:
(A) the name and address of the cottage food
operation;
(B) the common or usual name of the food product;
(C) all ingredients of the food product, including
any colors, artificial flavors, and preservatives,
listed in descending order by predominance of weight
shown with common or usual names;
(D) the following phrase: "This product was
produced in a home kitchen not subject to public health
inspection that may also process common food
allergens.";
(E) the date the product was processed; and
(F) allergen labeling as specified in federal
labeling requirements.
(5) The name and residence of the person preparing and
selling products as a cottage food operation is registered
with the health department of a unit of local government
where the cottage food operation resides. No fees shall be
charged for registration. Registration shall be for a
minimum period of one year.
(6) The person preparing or packaging and selling
products as a cottage food operation has a Department
approved Food Service Sanitation Management Certificate.
(7) At the point of sale a placard is displayed in a
prominent location that states the following: "This
product was produced in a home kitchen not subject to
public health inspection that may also process common food
allergens.".
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of
this Section, if the Department or the health department of a
unit of local government has received a consumer complaint or
has reason to believe that an imminent health hazard exists or
that a cottage food operation's product has been found to be
misbranded, adulterated, or not in compliance with the
exception for cottage food operations pursuant to this Section,
then it may invoke cessation of sales until it deems that the
situation has been addressed to the satisfaction of the
Department.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of
this Section, a State-certified local public health department
may, upon providing a written statement to the Department,
regulate the service of food by a cottage food operation. The
regulation by a State-certified local public health department
may include all of the following requirements:
(1) That the cottage food operation (A) register with
the State-certified local public health department, which
shall be for a minimum of one year and include a reasonable
fee set by the State-certified local public health
department that is no greater than $25 notwithstanding
paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of this Section and (B)
agree in writing at the time of registration to grant
access to the State-certified local public health
department to conduct an inspection of the cottage food
operation's primary domestic residence in the event of a
consumer complaint or foodborne illness outbreak.
(2) That in the event of a consumer complaint or
foodborne illness outbreak the State-certified local
public health department is allowed to (A) inspect the
premises of the cottage food operation in question and (B)
set a reasonable fee for that inspection.
(e) The Department may adopt rules as may be necessary to
implement the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 97-393, eff. 1-1-12; 98-660, eff. 6-23-14.)
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