Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2108 by Rodriguez (Relating to the regulation of cottage food production operations.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would expand the list of foods that may be sold as cottage foods, and require a cottage food production operation selling fermented products or certain canned goods to use a recipe that is either from a source approved by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), or has been tested by an appropriately certified laboratory and the laboratory has confirmed that the finished product or good has a pH value of 4.6 or less. Alternatively, a cottage food production operation could annually test the first batch of each recipe with a pH meter to ensure the appropriate pH level.
The bill would require DSHS to semiannually post a list of approved sources for recipes on its Internet website. DSHS indicates that the bill's provisions would also require the agency to modify rules and orient field inspectors and local health departments with rule changes. According to DSHS, any costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed with existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of