Licenses expire on March 31 and must be renewed annually. A late fee is imposed if a food establishment operates without first obtaining a license. If you have a commercial scale that has not been approved, contact the MDA regional office nearest you. There is no charge for routine inspections unless the scale is condemned for violations. All processed food and drink must be produced at a licensed food establishment.
Processing includes packing, repacking, canning, baking, preserving, fabricating, and freezing.
Firms processing acidified foods must register with the FDA if the food is intended for interstate commerce. If the firm is not required to register with the FDA, they must verify the pH for each product with a pH meter or laboratory analysis and make the results available to MDA upon request. Under MDA's laws and regulations, no label approval is necessary prior to a food's distribution or sale. MDA will review labels informally for their acceptability. Food shipped interstate must meet federal requirements.