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1995 SESSION

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LD3778412
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 699 House Amendments in [ ] -- February 16, 1995 Requesting the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Virginia Department of Health to develop a comprehensive, uniform approach to food safety and inspection programs.

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) conducts retail food store inspections in all of Virginia's localities; and

WHEREAS, in 14 localities, ordinances also require local health departments to conduct retail food store inspections; and

WHEREAS, while these two food safety and inspection programs are similar, they may be subject to different federal standards as required by the United States Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration or the United States Department of Health; and

WHEREAS, retail food stores that sell prepared food are subject to varying levels of Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and VDACS inspections, depending upon (i) whether seating is provided for on-premises consumption of such food and (ii) whether local ordinances require local health department inspections; and

WHEREAS, the VDACS, VDH and local food safety inspection programs may impose duplicative or inconsistent requirements that may be unduly burdensome on Virginia's food establishments; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the VDACS and the VDH be requested to work together to develop a comprehensive, uniform approach to food safety and inspection programs in the Commonwealth [ that recognizes the authority of localities to administer such programs ] ; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That in formulating this approach, the VDACS and the VDH be requested to consult with all interested parties including, but not limited to, the Virginia Food Dealers Association, Virginia Hospitality and Travel Industry Association, Virginia Retail Merchants Association, Virginia Agribusiness Council, Virginia Association of Counties, Virginia Municipal League and the fourteen localities with current food safety and inspection ordinances.