(A)(1) As used in this section, "food processing establishment" has the same meaning as in section3715.021of the Revised Code.
(2) A person that operates a food processing establishment shall register the establishment annually with the director of agriculture. The person shall submit an application for registration or renewal on a form prescribed and provided by the director. Except as provided in division (G) of this section, an application for registration or renewal shall be accompanied by a registration fee in an amount established in rules adopted under this section. If a person files an application for registration on or after the first day of August of any year, the fee shall be one-half of the annual registration fee.
(B)(1) The director shall inspect the food processing establishment for which an application for initial registration has been submitted. If, upon inspection, the director finds that the establishment is in compliance with this chapter and Chapter 911., 913., 915., or 925. of the Revised Code, as applicable, or applicable rules adopted under those chapters, the director shall issue a certificate of registration to the food processing establishment. A food processing establishment registration expires on the thirty-first day of January and is valid until that date unless it is suspended or revoked under this section.
(2) A person that is operating a food processing establishment shall apply to the director for a certificate of registration not later than a date specified by the director in rules adopted under this section. If an application is not filed with the director or postmarked on or before that date, the director shall assess a late fee in an amount established in rules adopted under this section.
(C)(1) A food processing establishment registration may be renewed by the director. A person seeking registration renewal shall submit an application for renewal to the director not later than the thirty-first day of January. The director shall issue a renewed certificate of registration on receipt of a complete renewal application except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section.
(2) If a renewal application is not filed with the director or postmarked on or before the thirty-first day of January, the director shall assess a late fee in an amount established in rules adopted under this section. The director shall not renew the registration until the applicant pays the late fee.
(D) A copy of the food processing establishment registration certificate shall be conspicuously displayed in an area of the establishment to which customers of the establishment have access.
(E)(1) The director or the director's designee may issue an order suspending or revoking a food processing establishment registration upon determining that the registration holder is in violation of this chapter or Chapter 911., 913., 915., or 925. of the Revised Code, as applicable, or applicable rules adopted under those chapters. Except as provided in division (E)(2) of this section, a registration shall not be suspended or revoked until the registration holder is provided an opportunity to appeal the suspension or revocation in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(2) If the director determines that a food processing establishment presents an immediate danger to the public health, the director may issue an order immediately suspending the establishment's registration without affording the registration holder an opportunity for a hearing. The director then shall afford the registration holder an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code not later than ten days after the date of suspension.
(3) If the director finds that a person is operating a food processing establishment without registering the establishment under this section, the director shall issue a letter of warning to the person giving the person ten days to register the establishment. If the person fails to register the establishment within that ten-day time period, the director may assess a civil penalty against the person. If the director assesses a civil penalty, the director shall do so as follows:
(a) If, within five years of the issuance of the letter of warning to the person, the director has not previously assessed a civil penalty against the person under this section, in an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars;
(b) If, within five years of the issuance of the letter of warning to the person, the director has previously assessed one civil penalty against the person under this section, in an amount not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars;
(c) If, within five years of the issuance of the letter of warning to the person, the director has previously assessed two or more civil penalties against the person under this section, in an amount not exceeding five thousand dollars.
(F) The director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish all of the following:
(1) The date by which a person that is operating a food processing establishment must submit an application for a food processing establishment registration;
(2) The amount of the registration fee that must be submitted with an application for a food processing establishment registration and with an application for renewal;
(3) The amount of the late fee that is required in division (B)(2) of this section;
(4) The amount of the fee for the late renewal of a food processing establishment registration that is required in division (C)(2) of this section;
(5) Any other procedures and requirements that are necessary to administer and enforce this section.
(G) The following are not required to pay any registration fee that is otherwise required in this section:
(1) Bakeries registered under section911.02of the Revised Code;
(2) Canneries licensed under section913.02of the Revised Code;
(3) Soft drink plants licensed under section913.23of the Revised Code;
(4) Cold-storage warehouses licensed under section915.02of the Revised Code;
(5) Persons licensed under section915.15of the Revised Code;
(6) Persons that are engaged in egg production and that maintain annually five hundred or fewer laying hens.
(H) All money that is collected under this section shall be credited to the food safety fund created in section915.24of the Revised Code.
Last updated March 21, 2023 at 10:40 AM