Washington Administrative Code

The purpose for pull dates is to inform the consumer of the expected length of shelf life for perishable packaged foods in order to allow them a reasonable amount of time to use the product under proper care and storage conditions.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.30.120, 69.07.020, 6…

The pull date indicates the last day that the product can be sold and still allow the purchaser a reasonable amount of time to use the product under normal usage and storage conditions.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.30.120, 69.07.020, 69.10.055, and 16.49.025. WSR 20-17-020, § 16-1…

Products can be sold after the pull date has expired if they are still wholesome, not a danger to health and clearly labeled indicating that the pull date has expired. They must be separated from products that are still within pull date.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.30.120, 69.07.…

The pull date must first show the month then the day of the month. The month can either be identified with three letters indicating the month such as DEC for December or by numbers indicating the month from one for January through twelve for December. The day of the month must be…

Pull dates on perishable packaged foods subject to pull dating may not be changed, crossed-out or concealed.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.30.120, 69.07.020, 69.10.055, and 16.49.025. WSR 20-17-020, § 16-142-150, filed 8/6/20, effective 9/6/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 69.04.915. W…

The pull date must be placed on the label in a conspicuous location, that is clearly discernible. The pull date must be legible and of a type size consistent with the size of other required labeling.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.30.120, 69.07.020, 69.10.055, and 16.49.025. WSR 20-…

Storage conditions and temperature requirements for perishable packaged foods are the same as required under chapter 246-215 WAC rules and regulations of the state board of health for food service and chapter 69.10 RCW Food storage warehouses.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.30.120, …

The definitions and standards contained in chapters 15.36 and 15.130 RCW shall apply in this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.(1) Frozen desserts means ice cream, frozen custard, ice milk, nonfat frozen dairy dessert, dietetic frozen desserts, fruit sherbets…

Frozen dessert mixes must be transported in:(1) Single service containers which meet the requirements for Grade A milk products under Appendix J of the pasteurized milk ordinance (PMO); or(2) Containers with single service liners which meet the requirements for Grade A milk produ…

Transport of mix in milk trucks or milk cans is not allowed. The risk of post pasteurization contamination is too great without final pasteurization at the plant where the mix is frozen and packaged.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.30.120, 69.07.020, 69.10.055, and 16.49.025. WSR 20-…

Frozen dessert mix is required to be held at forty-five degrees Fahrenheit or less at all times.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.30.120, 69.07.020, 69.10.055, and 16.49.025. WSR 20-17-020, § 16-144-148, filed 8/6/20, effective 9/6/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 15.36.021 and 69.04.398(…

(1) Frozen dessert mix containers approved under WAC 16-144-146 must bear a pull date which establishes the last day it may be used. This pull date must meet the requirements for pull dating of perishable packaged food under chapters 15.130 RCW and 16-142 WAC.(2) Pasteurized froz…

If used, the following ingredients must be added to frozen dessert mix prior to final pasteurization:(1) All dairy products including milk solids, whey, nonfat dry milk, condensed milk, cream, skim milk, and other milk products.(2) Egg products.(3) Reconstituted or recombined dry…

The following ingredients can be added to frozen dessert mix after final pasteurization or at the freezer:(1) Ingredients which have been subjected to prior heat treatment sufficient to kill harmful microorganisms.(2) Ingredients with 0.85% water activity or less.(3) High acid in…

These rules are promulgated under section 10, chapter 374, Laws of 1995. The purpose of these rules is to establish a renewal date for the annual food storage warehouse license.[Statutory Authority: RCW 69.10.015. WSR 96-01-041, § 16-145-010, filed 12/13/95, effective 1/13/96.]

The license period for food storage warehouses shall begin on April 1 and run through the following March 31. All food storage warehouse licenses shall expire on March 31 of each year.[Statutory Authority: RCW 69.10.015. WSR 96-01-041, § 16-145-020, filed 12/13/95, effective 1/13…

Licenses to operate a food processing plant or to process food issued under RCW 69.07.040 shall expire on the 30th day of June of each year.[Statutory Authority: RCW 69.07.040. WSR 92-19-044 (Order 4011), § 16-146-100, filed 9/10/92, effective 10/10/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 1…

(1) An additional fee shall be assessed for any license issued under chapter 69.07 RCW for which an application for renewal is not filed prior to July 1st in any year.(2) Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the department's ability, as otherwise provided by law, to deny a …

The purpose of this chapter is to establish requirements for issuing sanitary certificates to food processing plants and to milk processing plants.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.36.525 and 69.07.085. WSR 00-05-025, § 16-147-010, filed 2/9/00, effective 3/11/00. Statutory Authority:…

A sanitary certificate is a notarized statement by a responsible food safety official certifying that a food processing plant or milk processing plant has been inspected and approved by this department and has been issued a license indicating the same.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15…

The requirements for obtaining a sanitary certificate are:(1) All applicants must be currently licensed as either a food processing or milk processing plant in Washington state with the department of agriculture under RCW 69.07.040 or 15.36.051.(2) Sanitary certificate will be is…

The purpose of this chapter is to implement chapter 69.22 RCW by establishing rules relating to the:(1) Issuance of permits regulating the production of cottage food products to be sold directly to the ultimate consumer.(2) Conditions under which cottage food products identified …

(1) In addition to the definitions contained in this section and chapter 69.22 RCW, the definitions found in chapters 69.06, 69.07, and 15.130 RCW, chapters 16-165, 16-167, and 246-215 WAC, and Title 21 C.F.R. may apply.(2) For the purposes of this chapter, the following definiti…

(1) All cottage food operations must be permitted every two years by the department. The permit will identify a specific listing of the food products allowed to be produced by the cottage food operation.(2) Prior to permitting, the department will examine the recipes, labels, and…

(1) If gross sales during a calendar year exceed the maximum annual gross sales allowance of $35,000, the cottage food operator must cease operations for the remainder of that permit period or meet all the requirements and obtain a food processing plant license or cease operation…

(1) To qualify for a new cottage food operator permit issued under chapter 69.22 RCW, the Washington Cottage Food Operator Act, a cottage food operator must first make application to the department. The new applicant may submit at anytime of the year.(2) By applying for a cottage…

(1) Applications must be submitted on the form provided by the department, and must include:(a) A completed application form.(b) A diagram of the cottage food operation premises identifying what areas of the residence will be used for the cottage food activities.(i) The diagram m…

(1) Amendments to an existing cottage food permit after issuance require a new application and application fee. Operators must apply for an amendment if adding new products (provided the amendment does not exceed the limit on recipes), when changing recipes, or changing the premi…

(1) A cottage food production operation shall:(a) Ensure that each operator holds a valid food handler's permit.(b) Provide for food contact surfaces that are smooth and easily cleanable.(c) Maintain acceptable sanitary standards and practices.(i) Carpeting and rugs are not appro…

(1) In addition to inspections required for permit applications or amendments, the department may inspect the permitted area of a cottage food operation whenever the department has reason to believe the cottage food operation is in violation of the requirements of chapter 69.22 R…

(1) At a minimum, the following records must be kept at the cottage food operation:(a) Copies of all food handler worker cards;(b) Copy of the master business license;(c) All cottage food product recipes that are allowed by the department and listed on the current cottage food op…

(1) A cottage food operation may only sell cottage food products which are prepackaged (except for certain products as outlined in subsection (2) of this section) with a label affixed that contains the following information (printed in English):(a) The name and permit number issu…

A cottage food operation is allowed to produce food items that are nonpotentially hazardous. Subsection (1) of this section lists acceptable cottage food products. Although this list is not all inclusive, it provides for most types of approved cottage food products. Only those pr…

This section lists unacceptable cottage food products. Although not inclusive, it lists most types of unapproved cottage food products:• Fresh or dried meat or meat products including jerky;• Fresh or dried poultry or poultry products;• Canned fruits, vegetables, vegetable butter…

(1) A cottage food operation permit and applications for cottage food operation permits are governed by chapter 34.05 RCW.(2) After conducting a hearing, the director may deny, suspend, or revoke a cottage food operation application or permit if it is determined that an applicant…

This chapter is adopted under RCW 15.86.060 wherein the director is authorized to adopt rules for the proper administration of the Organic Food Products Act, and under RCW 15.86.070 wherein the director is authorized to adopt rules establishing a certification program for produce…

The Washington state department of agriculture adopts the standards of the National Organic Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 205, effective March 20, 2023, for the production and handling of organic crops, livestock, and processed agricultural products. The National Organic Program rules m…

As used in this chapter:"Department" means the Washington state department of agriculture."Director" means the director of the department of agriculture or their duly authorized representative."Facility" includes, but is not limited to, any premises, plant, establishment, facilit…

Except for applications and laboratory analyses submitted for certification under this chapter, the department keeps confidential any business-related information obtained under this chapter. All business-related information submitted to the department under this chapter is exemp…

(1) Except for operations exempt or excluded in the National Organic Program (7 C.F.R. 205.101), each production or handling operation or specified portion of a production or handling operation must be certified if it produces or handles crops, livestock, livestock products, or o…

(1) Producers and handlers of organic products must submit an application packet and fees to the department each year to receive or maintain certification.(a) New applicant fee: A new application fee of $500 must be submitted with each new application.(b) Renewal fee: A renewal f…

A representative sample of any organic product may be tested for pesticide or other contaminants whenever the director deems it necessary for organic certification or maintenance of organic certification. Sample analysis is provided under the application and certification fees.[S…

(1) The director must review the application, inspection report, and results of any samples collected to determine if a producer, handler, processor, or retailer has complied with the conditions for organic or transitional certification. A certificate will be issued when the dire…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.86.060 and 15.86.070. WSR 19-01-062, § 16-157-275, filed 12/14/18, effective 1/14/19. Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.86 RCW. WSR 02-10-090, § 16-157-275, filed 4/29/02, effective 5/30/02.]

(1) Organic export and transaction certificates are issued to verify that a specific shipment of organic agricultural products has been produced, processed, and handled in accordance with the National Organic Program, 7 C.F.R. Part 205, or a foreign organic standard.(2) Applicati…

This chapter specifies the process for registering companies and listing materials approved for use in organic production, processing and handling on the department's brand name materials list, also known as the organic input material list. This chapter is promulgated pursuant to…

As used in this chapter:"Animal manure" means feces, urine, other excrement, and bedding produced by livestock that has not been composted."Authorized representative" means either the registrant or a person authorized by the registrant to act on the registrant's behalf and bind t…

(1) Registration with the department and listing of a material on the brand name materials list is voluntary. While registration is not required for a material to be used or sold in this state, registration is necessary for a material to be included on the department's organic in…

(1) Manufacturers of materials used in organic production, processing or handling may submit an application for registration with the department's organic program.(2) Current registrants and potential applicants may submit applications for products to be listed on the organic inp…

(1) To have products listed on the organic input material list, manufacturers must register with the department. To apply for registration, applicants must submit:(a) An application form.(b) A material registrant agreement in which the registrant agrees to comply with chapter 16-…