Bill > HB583

This bill amends Georgia's laws to authorize the production and sale of "cottage food items" - non-potentially hazardous foods or non-alcoholic beverages produced in a home kitchen - with certain exemptions, requirements, and disclosures. It defines key terms, allows cottage food operators to sell directly to consumers or to retail food establishments, requires labeling and disclosure for consumers, empowers the Commissioner of Agriculture to enforce the law and adopt regulations, imposes civil penalties for non-compliance, and prohibits local governments from further regulating cottage food items beyond the state law. The bill also exempts cottage food operators and sellers from being considered "food sales establishments" or "meat, poultry, or dairy processing plants" under existing state laws.