Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB5657

Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that regulation of farmers' markets by local authorities may be no more stringent than the regulation established by the Department of Public Health. Establishes a framework for the regulation of food samples. Makes a corresponding change in the Sanitary Food Preparation Act. Imposes requirements for disclosure of product origin with respect to specialty crops and raw agricultural commodities. Authorizes a State-certified local public health department to impose a fee in connection with the registration of a cottage food operation. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the introduced bill with the following changes: Deletes the requirement that the Task Force assist the Department of Public Health and the Department of Agriculture in developing administrative regulations and procedures regarding the implementation of the various Acts that define which products and practices are permitted and which products and practices are not permitted at farmers' markets. Provides instead that the Task Force shall advise the Department regarding the content of any administrative rules adopted under the Act prior to adoption of the rules and that any administrative rules, except emergency rules, adopted without obtaining the advice of the Task Force are null and void. Includes within the scope of the provisions of the Act ready-to-eat foods and any additional items specified in the administrative rules adopted by the Department. Deletes the minimum requirements concerning vendors engaged in food product sampling. Deletes the provision that upon completion of the food sampling at farmers' market training course, a trainee shall submit proof to the Department and the Department shall issue a food sampling training license that is valid for 2 years. Provides that a vendor who engages in food product sampling at a farmers' market may do so without obtaining a State or local permit to provide those food product samples, provided the vendor complies with the State and local permit requirements to sell the food product to be sampled and with the food preparation, food handling, food storage, and food sampling requirements specified in the administrative rules adopted by the Department to implement certain provisions of the Act. Provides that specialty crops and raw agricultural commodities purchased through wholesale or retail markets may be offered for resale at a farmers' market. If the physical address of the farm or farms where the products were grown or produced is unknown, then the vendor must post at the point of sale a placard or include on a label or packing slip the physical address and business name, when applicable, where the products were purchased. Makes changes to the definition of "farmers' market", "potentially hazardous food", and "cottage food operation". Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

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