Bill > H862

This bill aims to promote economic opportunities for cottage food entrepreneurs by establishing regulations for cottage food operations in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Prohibiting local boards of health from establishing rules or regulations for cottage food operations. 2. Defining "cottage food operation" as a person who produces cottage food products only in their domestic residence for direct retail sale to consumers, and defining "cottage food product" as non-time/temperature control for safety foods like baked goods, jams, and other non-perishable items. 3. Exempting cottage food operations from certain permitting, licensing, inspection, packaging, and labeling requirements for food establishments, while still requiring them to provide consumer information on the product label or point of sale. 4. Establishing a voluntary cottage food operation registry with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, allowing operators to obtain a personal identification number to use on their product labels instead of their home address. 5. Clarifying that the Department of Public Health and local health boards retain the ability to investigate reported foodborne illnesses and provide assistance to cottage food operators upon request.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H862