HB463 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thomas JacksonRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Cottage food production operations, baked goods and roasted coffees, exempt from obtaining food service permit from health department, labeling of baked goods, other food items, food safety course required, Sec. 22-20-5.1 am'd.

Summary

The bill would expand cottage food protections to in-home roasted coffee producers, exempting them from health department food service permits while requiring labeling and a food safety course.

What This Bill Does

It adds roasted coffee to the list of foods that can be produced at home and sold directly to consumers without a restaurant-style permit, as long as annual sales are $20,000 or less. It keeps the exemption from needing a food service permit and from being regulated as a food service establishment. It requires labeling of cottage foods (including roasted coffee) with the operation's name and address and a statement that the food is not inspected, and it requires the operator to complete a department-approved food safety course. The health department can stop sale or seize food if a foodborne illness is suspected, and Internet sales are prohibited. The bill would take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• In-home cottage food producers who roast coffee: may sell roasted coffee from home directly to consumers without a health permit, provided they stay under $20,000 in annual gross sales and comply with labeling and food safety course requirements.
• Consumers who buy cottage foods: will purchase labeled, non-inspected roasted coffee and other cottage foods sold directly from home, within the same income and direct-to-consumer framework.

Key Provisions

• Adds roasted coffee to the list of foods that can be produced at home under cottage food production operations.
• Sets an annual gross sales limit of $20,000 from the sale of qualifying foods and requires direct-to-consumer sales only.
• Exempts cottage food production operations from needing a health department food service permit.
• Allows the department to stop sale, seize, or hold food suspected of causing a foodborne illness.
• Requires labeling of baked goods, canned jams/jellies, candies, roasted coffees, and dried herb/herb mixes with the producer's name and address and a statement that the food is not inspected.
• Requires operators to complete a food safety course approved by the department, and to maintain certification of attendance and course completion.
• Prohibits selling cottage foods over the Internet.
• Defines key terms: Baked Good, Cottage Food Production Operation, Department, and Home.
• Effective date: first day of the third month following passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health