§ 19a-36j — Food inspectors. Certification. Employment restrictions. Inspections.

Connecticut § 19a-36j

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 19a: Public Health and Well-Being
• Ch. 368a: Department of Public Health

Text

(a) No person shall engage in the practice of a food inspector unless such person has obtained a certification from the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this section. The commissioner shall develop a training and verification program for food inspector certification that shall be administered by the food inspection training officer at a local health department. (1) Each person seeking certification as a food inspector shall submit an application to the department on a form prescribed by the commissioner and present to the department satisfactory evidence that such person (A) possesses a bachelor's degree or three years of experience in a regulatory food protection program, (B) has successfully completed a training and verification program prescribed by the commissioner, and (C) has successfully completed the field standardization inspection prescribed by the commissioner. (2) Certifications issued under this section shall be subject to renewal once every three years. A food inspector applying for renewal of his or her certification shall demonstrate successful completion of twenty contact hours in food protection training, as approved by the commissioner, and reassessment by the food inspection training officer. (b) No person shall be employed as a certified food inspector if such person, such person's immediate family, as defined in section 1-79 , or a business with which such person is associated, as described in subdivision (2) of section 1-79 , (1) has any financial or ownership interest in a food establishment located in the jurisdiction in which such person is employed as a food inspector, (2) engages in any business, employment or management of a food establishment located in such jurisdiction, or (3) owns the property on which a food establishment is located in such jurisdiction. (c) Each director of health employing a food inspector shall certify, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, that such food inspector is not prohibited from employment as a food inspector pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. (d) A certified food inspector shall conduct an inspection of a food establishment in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner to determine compliance with the food code. The director of health shall ensure all food establishments are inspected at a frequency determined by their risk classification. Such director of health shall evaluate the food establishment's risk classification on an annual basis to determine accuracy. More frequent inspections may be conducted to ensure compliance with the food code. Each food establishment classification shall be inspected pursuant to the following schedule: (1) Class 1 food establishments shall be inspected at intervals not to exceed three hundred sixty days. (2) Class 2 food establishments shall be inspected at intervals not to exceed one hundred eighty days. (3) Class 3 food establishments shall be inspected at intervals not to exceed one hundred twenty days. (4) Class 4 food establishments shall be inspected at intervals not to exceed ninety days. (5) Temporary food service establishments shall be inspected prior to the issuance of a permit to operate and as often as necessary to ensure compliance with the food code.

Legislative History

(P.A. 17-93, S. 5; P.A. 18-168, S. 47; P.A. 21-121, S. 62; P.A. 23-31, S. 26.) History: P.A. 18-168 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “July 1, 2018” with “January 1, 2019”, effective June 13, 2018; P.A. 21-121 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “January 1, 2019” with “January 1, 2023”, effective July 6, 2021; P.A. 23-31 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting “On and after January 1, 2023” and making a conforming change, deleting Subdiv. (1)(A), redesignating Subdiv. (1)(B) to (1)(D) as Subdiv. (1)(A) to (1)(C), adding “prescribed by the commissioner, and” to Subdiv. (1)(B), deleting Subdiv. (1)(E), deleting Subdiv. (2), redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (2) and making conforming changes, added new Subsec. (b) re employment restrictions, added Subsec. (c) re certification re employment restrictions, and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d), effective January 1, 2024.