97.25(2)
(2) Prohibition. No person may place upon the label of a dairy product a statement indicating that the dairy product is not produced from herds being administered synthetic bovine growth hormone except as provided in
sub. (3).
97.25(3)
(3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules authorizing the operator of a dairy plant licensed under
s. 97.20, a retail food establishment licensed under
s. 97.30 or a restaurant with a permit under
s. 254.64 who complies with the rules to place upon the label of a dairy product the statement "Farmer-certified rBGH free." or an equivalent statement that is not false or misleading. The statement shall be based upon affidavits from milk producers stating that the milk producers do not use synthetic bovine growth hormone for the production of milk.
97.25(4)
(4) Reciprocity. A person may sell a dairy product that is labeled for retail sale in another state the label of which indicates that the dairy product is not produced from herds being administered synthetic bovine growth hormone only if the dairy product is from a state identified by the department as having laws comparable to this state's laws on labeling dairy products not produced with synthetic bovine growth hormone and is labeled in compliance with the laws of that state.
97.25 History
History: 1993 a. 476;
1995 a. 225.
97.25 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
ATCP 83, Wis. adm. code.
97.27
97.27
Food warehouses. 97.27(1)(1)
Definitions. In this section:
97.27(1)(a)
(a) "Cold-storage warehouse" means a warehouse in which food is to be stored at temperatures between zero and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
97.27(1)(b)
(b) "Food warehouse" means a warehouse used for the storage of food, and includes a cold-storage warehouse, frozen-food warehouse and frozen-food locker plant. "Food warehouse" does not include:
97.27(1)(b)2.
2. A warehouse used solely for the storage of grain or other raw agricultural commodities.
97.27(1)(b)3.
3. A retail food establishment, restaurant or other retail facility at which food is stored on a temporary basis incidental to retail preparation or sale.
97.27(1)(b)4.
4. A warehouse located in a dairy plant licensed under
s. 97.20, a food processing plant licensed under
s. 97.29, or a meat establishment licensed under
s. 97.42, and used primarily for the storage of food ingredients or food products manufactured or processed at the licensed establishment.
97.27(1)(b)5.
5. A warehouse operated by a milk distributor licensed under
s. 97.21 (3), and used primarily for the storage and distribution of milk and fluid milk products, as defined in
s. 97.20 (1) (c) and
(g).
97.27(1)(b)6.
6. A facility owned or operated by a consumer and used by that consumer to store food for the consumer's use.
97.27(1)(c)
(c) "Frozen-food locker plant" means a warehouse in which individual locked compartments not exceeding 20 cubic feet in capacity are rented to consumers for the storage of food at temperatures at or below 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
97.27(1)(d)
(d) "Frozen-food warehouse" means a warehouse at which food is to be stored at temperatures at or below 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
97.27(1)(dm)
(dm) "Potentially hazardous food" means any food that can support rapid and progressive growth of infectious or toxicogenic microorganisms.
97.27(1)(f)
(f) "Warehouse" means any building, room, structure or facility used for the storage of property.
97.27(2)
(2) License required. No person may operate a food warehouse without a valid license issued by the department for the food warehouse. A food warehouse license expires on June 30 annually. Every food warehouse shall have a separate license. A license is not transferable between persons or food warehouse locations. Application for a license shall be made on a form provided by the department and shall be accompanied by applicable fees required under
sub. (3). An application shall include information reasonably required by the department for licensing purposes.
97.27(3)(a)(a)
License fee. An applicant for a food warehouse license shall pay the license fee specified under
sub. (3m).
97.27(3)(b)
(b)
Reinspection fee. If the department reinspects a food warehouse because the department finds a violation of this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter on a regularly scheduled inspection, the department shall charge the food warehouse operator the reinspection fee specified under
sub. (3m). A reinspection fee is payable by the food warehouse operator when the reinspection is completed, and is due upon written demand from the department. The department may issue a demand for payment when it issues a license renewal application form to the food warehouse operator.
97.27(3)(c)
(c)
Surcharge for operating without a license. An applicant for a food warehouse license shall pay a license fee surcharge of $100 if the department determines that, within one year prior to submitting the license application, the applicant operated a food warehouse without a license in violation of this subsection. Payment of this license fee surcharge does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability which results from the unlicensed operation of the food warehouse, but does not constitute evidence of a violation of law.
97.27(3m)
(3m) Fee amounts. Unless otherwise established by department rule, the fees required under
sub. (3) are:
97.27(3m)(a)
(a) For a food warehouse that stores potentially hazardous food, and that has fewer than 50,000 square feet of storage area, an annual license fee of $50 and a reinspection fee of $50.
97.27(3m)(am)
(am) For a food warehouse that stores potentially hazardous food, and that has 50,000 or more square feet of storage area, an annual license fee of $100 and a reinspection fee of $100.
97.27(3m)(b)
(b) For a food warehouse that does not store potentially hazardous food, and that has fewer than 50,000 square feet of storage area, an annual license fee of $25 and a reinspection fee of $50.
97.27(3m)(c)
(c) For a food warehouse that does not store potentially hazardous food, and that has 50,000 or more square feet of storage area, an annual license fee of $50 and a reinspection fee of $100.
97.27(4)
(4) Licensing contingent on payment of fees. The department may not issue or renew a food warehouse license unless the license applicant pays all fees which are due and payable under
sub. (3), as set forth in a statement from the department. The department shall refund a fee paid under protest if the department determines that the fee was not due and payable as a condition of licensing under this section.
97.27(5)
(5) Rule making. The department may promulgate rules to establish the fees required under
sub. (3) or to govern the sanitary operation of food warehouses. Rules may include any of the following:
97.27(5)(a)
(a) Standards for the construction and maintenance of food storage facilities.
97.27(5)(b)
(b) Standards for the storage, identification and handling of food.
97.27(5)(c)
(c) Record-keeping requirements to show the length of time that food is kept in storage.
97.27(5)(d)
(d) Freezing and temperature requirements applicable to frozen-food warehouses, frozen-food locker plants and cold-storage warehouses.
97.27 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
ATCP 71, Wis. adm. code.
97.29
97.29
Food processing plants. 97.29(1)
(1)
Definitions. In this section:
97.29(1)(b)
(b) "Bakery" means any place where bread, crackers, pasta or pies, or any other food product for which flour or meal is the principal ingredient, are baked, cooked or dried, or prepared or mixed for baking, cooking or drying, for sale as food.
97.29(1)(c)
(c) "Bottling establishment" means any place where drinking water, soda water beverage or alcohol beverage is manufactured or bottled for sale. "Bottling establishment" does not include a retail establishment engaged in the preparation and sale of beverages under a license issued under
s. 125.26 or
125.51 or a restaurant permit or other permit issued under
s. 254.64.
97.29(1)(d)
(d) "Canning" means the preservation and packaging in hermetically sealed containers of low-acid or acidified foods.
97.29(1)(e)
(e) "Confectionary" means any place where candy, fruit, nutmeats or any other food product is manufactured, coated or filled with saccharine substances for sale as food.
97.29(1)(f)
(f) "Drinking water" means water used or intended for use for human consumption. "Drinking water" includes distilled water, artesian water, spring water and mineral water, whether carbonated or uncarbonated, if consumed by humans or intended for human consumption.
97.29(1)(g)
(g) "Food processing" means the manufacture or preparation of food for sale through the process of canning, extracting, fermenting, distilling, pickling, freezing, baking, drying, smoking, grinding, cutting, mixing, coating, stuffing, packing, bottling or packaging, or through any other treatment or preservation process. "Food processing" includes the activities of a bakery, confectionary or bottling establishment, and also includes the receipt and salvaging of distressed food for sale or use as food. "Food processing" does not include any of the following:
97.29(1)(g)2.
2. Activities covered under a meat or poultry establishment license issued under
s. 97.42.
97.29(1)(g)3.
3. The retail preparation and processing of meals for sale directly to consumers or through vending machines if the preparation and processing is covered under a restaurant permit or other permit issued under
s. 254.64.
97.29(1)(g)5.
5. The extraction of honey from the comb, or the production and sale of raw honey or raw bee products by a beekeeper.
97.29(1)(g)6.
6. The washing and packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables if the fruits and vegetables are not otherwise processed at the packaging establishment.
97.29(1)(g)7.
7. The receipt and salvaging of distressed food for sale or use as food if the food is received, salvaged and used solely by a charitable organization and if contributions to the charitable organization are deductible by corporations in computing net income under
s. 71.26 (2) (a).
97.29(1)(g)8.
8. Any other activity exempted by the department by rule.
97.29(1)(h)
(h) "Food processing plant" means any place where food processing is conducted. "Food processing plant" does not include any establishment subject to the requirements of
s. 97.30 or any restaurant or other establishment holding a permit under
s. 254.64, to the extent that the activities of that establishment are covered by
s. 97.30 or the permit under
s. 254.64.
97.29(1)(i)
(i) "Soda water beverage" means all beverages commonly known as soft drinks or soda water, whether carbonated, uncarbonated, sweetened or flavored.
97.29(2)(a)(a)
Requirement. Except as provided under
par. (b), no person may operate a food processing plant without a valid license issued by the department for that food processing plant. A license expires on March 31 annually. Each food processing plant shall have a separate license. A license is not transferable between persons or locations. Application for a license shall be made on a form provided by the department and be accompanied by the applicable fees required under
sub. (3). An applicant shall identify the categories of food processing activities which the applicant proposes to conduct at the food processing plant. An application shall include additional information which may reasonably be required by the department for licensing purposes.
97.29(2)(b)
(b)
Exemptions. If a dairy plant licensed under
s. 97.20 or a meat establishment licensed under
s. 97.42 is incidentally engaged in the operation of a food processing plant at the same location, the department may exempt by rule the dairy plant or meat establishment from licensing under this section.
97.29(2)(c)
(c)
Added operations. No food processing plant may add a new category of food processing operations during the time period for which a food processing plant license was issued unless the operator of the food processing plant first notifies the department and obtains written authorization for the new category of operations. "New category of food processing operations" may include any of the following operations which were not identified on the most recent license application for the food processing plant:
97.29(2)(c)5.
5. Freezing, smoking or other food preservation operations which constitute a significant departure from the operations described in the most recent license application.
97.29(2)(c)6.
6. Any other category of food processing operations which constitutes a significant departure from the operations described in the most recent license application.
97.29(3)(a)(a)
Annual license fee; all food processing plants. An applicant for a food processing plant license shall pay the license fee specified under
par. (am), based on the dollar volume of production by the food processing plant during the previous license year. The annual dollar volume of production shall be determined by gross sales of the product processed during the license year, plus the inventory value of any portion of the product not sold. If the food processing plant was not licensed during the previous license year, the license applicant shall pay an estimated license fee based on projected annual production in the license year for which application is made. At the end of the license year for which an estimated fee has been paid, the licensee shall report to the department the actual production during the license year, and the license fee for that year shall be recomputed based on the actual production. If the license fee based on actual production differs from the estimated license fee, the licensee shall pay the balance due or receive a credit from the department on the next year's license fee.
97.29(3)(am)
(am)
Fee amounts. Unless otherwise required by department rule, the annual fees required under
par. (a) are:
97.29(3)(am)1.
1. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of $25,000 or more but less than $250,000 and that is engaged in processing potentially hazardous food or in canning, an annual license fee of $120.
97.29(3)(am)2.
2. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of $250,000 or more and that is engaged in processing potentially hazardous food or in canning, an annual license fee of $270.
97.29(3)(am)3.
3. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of $25,000 or more but less than $250,000 and that is not engaged in processing potentially hazardous food or in canning, an annual license fee of $50.
97.29(3)(am)4.
4. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of $250,000 or more and that is not engaged in processing potentially hazardous food or in canning, an annual license fee of $110.
97.29(3)(am)5.
5. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of less than $25,000, an annual license fee of $40.
97.29(3)(b)
(b)
Canning operations; license fee surcharge. If a food processing plant is engaged in canning operations, a license applicant shall pay a license fee surcharge of $195, beginning with the license year which ends on March 31, 1989, which shall be added to the license fee under
par. (a).
97.29(3)(c)
(c)
Reinspection fee. If the department reinspects a food processing plant because the department finds a violation of this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter, the department shall charge the food processing plant operator the reinspection fee specified under
par. (cm). The reinspection fee shall be based on the dollar volume of production by the food processing plant during the previous license year, and may include a reinspection fee surcharge for a food processing plant engaged in canning operations. The reinspection fee is payable when the reinspection is completed, and is due upon written demand from the department. The department may issue a demand for payment when it issues a license renewal application form to the food processing plant operator.
97.29(3)(cm)
(cm)
Fee amounts. Unless otherwise required by department rule, the reinspection fee required under
par. (c) is:
97.29(3)(cm)1.
1. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of $25,000 or more but less than $250,000 and that is engaged in processing potentially hazardous food or in canning, the reinspection fee is $80.
97.29(3)(cm)2.
2. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of $250,000 or more and that is engaged in processing potentially hazardous food or in canning, the reinspection fee is $180.
97.29(3)(cm)3.
3. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of $25,000 or more but less than $250,000 and that is not engaged in processing potentially hazardous food or in canning, the reinspection fee is $50.
97.29(3)(cm)4.
4. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of $250,000 or more and that is not engaged in processing potentially hazardous food or in canning, the reinspection fee is $110.
97.29(3)(cm)5.
5. For a food processing plant that has an annual production of less than $25,000, the reinspection fee is $40.
97.29(3)(d)
(d)
Surcharge for operating without a license. An applicant for a food processing plant license shall pay a license fee surcharge if the department determines that, within one year prior to submitting a license application, the applicant operated the food processing plant without a license in violation of this subsection. The amount of the surcharge is $100. Payment of this license fee surcharge does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability which results from the unlicensed operation of the food processing plant, but does not constitute evidence of a violation of any law.
97.29(3)(e)
(e)
Licensing contingent on payment of fees. The department may not issue or renew a food processing plant license unless the license applicant pays all fees which are due and payable under this subsection, as set forth in a statement from the department. The department shall refund a fee paid under protest if the department determines that the fee was not due and payable as a condition of licensing under this subsection.
97.29(4)
(4) Food processing plants buying vegetables from producers. The department may not issue or renew a license to operate a food processing plant to any applicant who is a vegetable contractor, as defined in
s. 126.55 (14), unless the applicant has filed all financial information required under
s. 126.58 and any security that is required under
s. 126.61. If an applicant has not filed all financial information required under
s. 126.58 and any security that is required under
s. 126.61, the department may issue a conditional license under
s. 93.06 (8) that prohibits the licensed operator from procuring vegetables from a producer or a producer's agent, but allows the operator to procure vegetables from other sources.
97.29(5)
(5) Rule making. The department may promulgate rules to establish the fees required under
sub. (3) (a) or
(c) or to govern the operation of food processing plants. Rules may include standards for the construction and maintenance of facilities; the design, installation, cleaning and maintenance of equipment and utensils; personnel sanitation; food handling and storage; sanitary production and processing; and food sources and food labeling.
