HB599 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jamie KielRepresentative

Republican

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

HB 599 would extend cottage food exemptions to home-based roasted coffee producers, allowing direct-to-consumer sales without a health department permit while adding labeling and safety requirements.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill adds roasted coffee to the foods that can be made at home and sold without a permit. It sets conditions: the operation must be home-based, earn $20,000 or less in annual gross income from the listed foods, and sell directly to consumers. It requires labeling of all listed products and completion of a department-approved food safety course, with the operator maintaining certification; it also prohibits online sales and gives health department authority to act if a foodborne illness is suspected. The department would create rules to implement these requirements, and the law would take effect a few months after passage.

Who It Affects

• In-home cottage food operators who produce roasted coffee (and other listed foods) and sell directly to consumers, as long as their annual gross income from these foods is $20,000 or less; they would be exempt from needing a state health department food service permit but must follow labeling and food safety course requirements.
• Consumers who buy these cottage foods directly from home-based operations; they would receive labeled products that include the operator’s name and address and a statement that the item is not inspected by health authorities, and would be purchasing from non-online, direct-to-consumer sales.

Key Provisions

• Adds roasted coffee to the list of products that can be produced at home and sold under cottage food production operation and defines 'cottage food production operation' with an annual gross income cap of $20,000 and direct-to-consumer sales.
• Maintains the exemption from requiring a state or county food service permit for cottage food operations.
• Requires labeling of baked goods, jams/jellies, candies, roasted coffees, and dried herb/herb mixes sold to consumers, including the operation’s name and address and a statement that the food is not inspected; requires completion of a department-approved food safety course and ongoing certification by the operator.
• Prohibits selling these foods over the Internet.
• Gives the department authority to stop sale or seize foods suspected of causing illness.
• Requires the Department to promulgate rules to implement these labeling and training requirements.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

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