Strict laws apply when operating a food establishment.
Health requirements for opening a food business in New Jersey are based on those required by the United States Department of Agriculture. From storage to handling, preparation and inspection, New Jersey has a series of regulations for businesses that sell food. These are regulated by the State Department of Health and must be adhered to in order to run a restaurant, food cart or catering business.
Acquiring a License
New Jersey requires that all retail establishments that prepare and sell food be licensed by the Bureau of License & Inspections. There is one in the city of Camden, located at 520 Market Street, City Hall Room 220, Camden, NJ 08101. As of September 2010, fees range from $172.50 for takeout eateries, taverns and delicatessens, to up to $219.42 for higher-end restaurants and catering halls. To file your application, you'll also need: a health certificate, a copy of the deed or lease, proof of zoning approval (if your business is a brick and mortar establishment), sales tax certificate, social security card, driver's license and two passport-size photos.
Safety Regulations
To start a food business in New Jersey, you must comply with the state's Sanitation in Retail Food Establishments and Food and Beverage Vending Machines law, called Chapter 24. This law covers all food safety regulations in the state of New Jersey, including the responsibilities of management and staff, food stuffs and the equipment used to prepare and serve food.
Inspections
All food establishments must comply with all inspections requested by the State Department of Health. By law, the department has full access to randomly inspect any restaurant, vendor or catering establishment that handles or sells food. During an inspection, any or all packages, containers and preparation stations can be examined and samples taken for further analysis. Any violation of the Department of Agriculture regulations may result in the confiscation of samples for analysis.
Tags: comply with, Department Agriculture, Department Health, food business, food business Jersey
