as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/10/2021 03:46pm
A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; establishing the Minnesota Food Freedom Act; exempting
homemade food sellers from certain statutes; preempting application of certain
local ordinances to homemade food sellers; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020,
section 28A.152; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
28A.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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Section 28A.152 may be cited as the "Minnesota Food Freedom Act."
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Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 28A.152, is amended to read:
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(a) The
licensing provisions of sections 28A.01 to 28A.16 do not apply to the following:
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(1) an individual who prepares and sells food that is not potentially hazardous food, as
defined in Minnesota Rules, part 4626.0020, subpart 62, if the following requirements are
met:
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(i) the prepared food offered for sale under this clause is labeled to accurately reflect
the name and address of the individual preparing and selling the food, the date on which
the food was prepared, and the ingredients and any possible allergens; and
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(ii) the individual displays at the point of sale a clearly legible sign or placard stating:
"These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."; and
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(2) an individual who prepares and sells home-processed and home-canned food products
if the following requirements are met:
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(i) the products are pickles, vegetables, or fruits having an equilibrium pH value of 4.6
or lower;
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(ii) the products are home-processed and home-canned in Minnesota;
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(iii) the individual displays at the point of sale a clearly legible sign or placard stating:
"These canned goods are homemade and not subject to state inspection."; and
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(iv) each container of the product sold or offered for sale under this clause is accurately
labeled to provide the name and address of the individual who processed and canned the
goods, the date on which the goods were processed and canned, and ingredients and any
possible allergens.
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(b) An individual who qualifies for an exemption under paragraph (a), clause (2), is also
exempt from the provisions of sections 31.31 and 31.392.
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(a) Notwithstanding other provisions in this chapter, chapters 31 and 34A, or other law,
state and local food safety licensing, permitting, certification, inspection, packaging, and
labeling requirements do not apply to a person who prepares and sells homemade food
directly to an informed end consumer for home consumption. The person must inform the
end consumer orally or in writing that the person and the food product are not subject to
food licensing or inspection requirements.
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(b) For purposes of this section:
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(1) "homemade" means food prepared in a private home kitchen;
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(2) "home consumption" means consumption by an informed end consumer or the
informed end consumer's family member, employee, or nonpaying guest in a private home;
and
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(3) "informed end consumer" means a person that purchases a homemade food product
for home consumption if the person has been informed that the product and its producer are
not subject to food safety licensing or inspections.
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(c) This section must not be construed to impede a food borne illness investigation by
the commissioner or the commissioner of health.
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(a) deleted text begin An individualdeleted text end new text begin A person new text end qualifying for an
exemption under subdivision 1 may sell deleted text begin the exemptdeleted text end new text begin homemade new text end food:
(1) directly to deleted text begin the ultimatedeleted text end new text begin an informed end new text end consumer at a community event or farmers'
market;
(2) directly from the individual's home to deleted text begin the ultimatedeleted text end new text begin an informed end new text end consumerdeleted text begin , to the
extent allowed by local ordinancedeleted text end ; or
(3) through donation to a community event with the purpose of fund-raising for an
individual, or fund-raising for an educational, charitable, or religious organization.
(b) If an exempt food product will be delivered to deleted text begin the ultimatedeleted text end new text begin an informed endnew text end consumer
upon sale of the food product, the deleted text begin individualdeleted text end new text begin personnew text end who prepared the food product must
deleted text begin be the person who deliversdeleted text end new text begin delivernew text end the food product to the deleted text begin ultimatedeleted text end new text begin informed endnew text end consumer.
(c) new text begin Homemade new text end food products exempt under deleted text begin subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2),deleted text end new text begin this
section new text end may not be sold outside of Minnesota.
(d) Food products exempt under deleted text begin subdivision 1deleted text end new text begin this sectionnew text end may be sold over the Internet
but must be delivered directly to deleted text begin the ultimatedeleted text end new text begin an informed endnew text end consumer by the deleted text begin individualdeleted text end
new text begin person new text end who prepared the new text begin homemade new text end food deleted text begin productdeleted text end . deleted text begin The statement "These products are
homemade and not subject to state inspection." must be displayed on the website that offers
the exempt foods for purchase.
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An individual selling exempt foods under this section is
limited to total sales with gross receipts of $18,000 or less in a calendar year.
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Transactions
under this section must not involve the sale of meat products except:
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(1) live animals intended for slaughter; or
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(2) portions of animals sold for future delivery if the animals are processed by the
informed end user or a processor licensed by the commissioner or the United States
Department of Agriculture.
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deleted text begin An individualdeleted text end new text begin The commissioner must not require
a personnew text end who prepares and sells exempt new text begin homemade new text end food deleted text begin under subdivision 1 mustdeleted text end new text begin to new text end register
deleted text begin annuallydeleted text end with the commissioner. deleted text begin The annual registration fee is $50. An individual with
$5,000 or less in annual gross receipts from the sale of exempt food under this section is
not required to pay the registration fee.
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deleted text begin (a) An individual with gross receipts between $5,000
and $18,000 in a calendar year from the sale of exempt food under this section mustdeleted text end new text begin The
commissioner may provide but must not require a person tonew text end complete deleted text begin adeleted text end new text begin an onlinenew text end safe food
handling training course deleted text begin that is approved by the commissioner before registering under
subdivision 4. The training shall not exceed eight hours and must be completed every three
years while the individual is registered under subdivision 4deleted text end .
deleted text begin (b) An individual with gross receipts of less than $5,000 in a calendar year from the sale
of exempt food under this section must satisfactorily complete an online course and exam
as approved by the commissioner before registering under subdivision 4.deleted text end The commissioner
shall offer the online course deleted text begin and examdeleted text end under this deleted text begin paragraphdeleted text end new text begin subdivisionnew text end at no cost to deleted text begin the
individualdeleted text end new text begin a personnew text end .new text begin This section does not preclude the commissioner from providing
assistance or consultation to a person that prepares and sells homemade food.
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new text begin (a) new text end This section does not preempt the application of any
deleted text begin business licensing requirement ordeleted text end sanitation, public health, or zoning ordinance of a political
subdivision.
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(b) This section preempts the application of any food safety licensing, permitting,
certification, inspection, packaging, or labeling ordinance of a political subdivision to a
person selling homemade food under this section.
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A deleted text begin cottage foodsdeleted text end new text begin homemade food new text end account is created as a
separate account in the agricultural fund in the state treasury for depositing money received
by the commissioner deleted text begin under this sectiondeleted text end new text begin for purposes of this sectionnew text end . Money in the account,
including interest, is appropriated to the commissioner for new text begin these new text end purposes deleted text begin of this sectiondeleted text end .