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WHAT ARE THE FLORIDA COTTAGE FOOD LAWS?




In 2011 Florida Legislature enacted House Bill 7209 allowing individuals to manufacture, sell and store certain types of "cottage food" products in an unlicensed home kitchen.  Cottage food laws are somewhat restrictive, though fortunately it's very easy for a producer to start selling.  No license or permit is required, and there are no training or inspection fees, and the laws are fairly lenient when it comes to the allowed foods that a producer can sell.  Unfortunately, the producer is restricted to only $15,000 of sales per year, and they may only sell directly to consumers - no wholesale, mail order, or internet sales are allowed.

 

The new law does not cover many food items, including meats, dairy products, ketchup and canned pickled products. If these products aren't made properly, they can cause salmonella or botulism. To prevent any sanitation disasters, take an online course in food handling.  Although you don't need a license from the Agriculture Department to get started, you may need to get a standard business license, if your city or county requires it. You can call your planning division to find out if any zoning requirements apply to you.

 

Miami-Dade County does not allow cottage food operations at all, and other counties or cities may have similar restrictions.

 

The Division of Food Safety is responsible for assuring the public of a safe, wholesome and properly represented food supply through permitting and inspection of food establishments, inspection of food products, and performance of specialized laboratory analyses on a variety of food products sold or produced in the State. The Division monitors food from farm gate through processing and distribution to the retail point of purchase.  The new law does not cover many food items, including meats, dairy products, ketchup and canned pickled products. If these products aren't made properly, they can cause salmonella or botulism. To prevent any sanitation disasters, take an online course in food handling.

 

The Division is charged with administration and enforcement of the food and poultry and egg laws, and also provides support in the enforcement of other food safety laws. In addition to regulatory surveillance and enforcement, the Division evaluates consumer complaints related to food.

 

Florida Statutes

Chapter(s): 500, 501, 502, 503504, 531, 583, 586, 601

Florida Administrative Code and Register

Chapter(s): 5K-45G-6

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/content/download/10223/137606/CottageFoodAdvisoryWithFormNumber.pdf

 

http://cottagefoods.org/laws/usa/florida/