Plain English Breakdown
The official status shows the bill passed both chambers but reached a suspense file in committee; it may still require further action before becoming law.
New Rules and Fees for Acidified and Low-Acid Foods
This law removes old licensing rules for canning fish, meat, or other pressure-cooked foods and replaces them with new registration requirements and fees specifically for businesses making acidified or low-acid foods.
What This Bill Does
- Removes the current laws requiring licenses to commercially can fish, meat, or other products that need a pressure cooker or retort.
- Requires anyone who makes, packs, or holds commercial acidified or low-acid food for people or animals to register with the state department.
- Mandates that these businesses must get a scheduled process from an approved authority before making their food.
- Treats any acidified or low-acid food made without this required schedule as misbranded, which is illegal to sell.
- Adds a $350 annual fee for each business handling these foods on top of the regular registration cost.
Who It Names or Affects
- Businesses that commercially manufacture, process, or pack acidified foods like pickles or sauerkraut.
- Companies making low-acid canned goods such as vegetables, meats, or fish for human or animal consumption.
- The State Department of Public Health, which will collect fees and inspect facilities.
Terms To Know
- Acidified food
- Food that has acid added to it or is naturally acidic enough to prevent certain bacteria from growing.
- Low-acid food
- Food with a pH level above 4.6, such as most meats and vegetables, which needs special cooking methods like pressure canning to be safe.
- Scheduled process
- An approved set of steps for making food safely that must come from an official processing authority.
Limits and Unknowns
- The law does not say exactly when it will take effect because the effective date is listed as blank.
- Money collected in the new fee can only be used if the Legislature approves spending it for inspections and reviews.
- The text states no reimbursement is required from local agencies, but gives a general reason rather than specific details.