2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 21a - Consumer Protection › Chapter 417 - General Provisions. Pure Food and Drugs › Section 21a-62h. - Cottage food operation requirements. License suspension and revocation. Hearing. Cost of inspection.

(a) Each cottage food operation shall comply with the following requirements and any failure to comply shall be deemed a violation of this section and sections 21a-62b to 21a-62g, inclusive:
(1) No person, other than the person licensed to produce cottage food products or a person under his or her direct supervision, may engage in the processing, preparing, packaging or handling of any cottage food products;
(2) No preparation, packaging or handling of cottage food products shall occur in the home kitchen concurrently with any other domestic activities such as family meal preparation, clothes washing or ironing, kitchen cleaning, or guest entertainment;
(3) No pets, infants or children under the age of twelve shall be in the home kitchen during the preparation, packaging or handling of any cottage food products;
(4) All food contact surfaces, equipment and utensils used for the preparation, packaging or handling of any cottage food products shall be washed, rinsed and sanitized before each use;
(5) All food preparation and food and equipment storage areas shall be maintained free of rodents and insects; and
(6) All persons involved in the preparation and packaging of cottage food products:
(A) Shall not be ill while working in the home kitchen;
(B) Shall wash their hands before any food preparation and food packaging activities; and
(C) Use single-service gloves, bakery papers, tongs or other utensils in order to not have bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.
(b) A cottage food operation license may be suspended or revoked by the commissioner for any violation of this section or sections 21a-62b to 21a-62g, inclusive, after a hearing conducted in accordance with chapter 54. A cottage food operation license may be summarily suspended pending such a hearing if the commissioner has reason to believe that the public health, safety or welfare imperatively requires emergency action. Upon issuing a summary suspension, the commissioner shall schedule a hearing to determine whether to reinstate the license of the cottage food operation. Following said hearing, the commissioner shall either void such suspension or order revocation of the cottage food operation license. Any person or business entity whose license was revoked shall not be permitted to apply to the department for a new license for a period of one year from the date of decision of license revocation by the commissioner. The cost of any inspections necessary to determine whether or not an applicant whose license was revoked is entitled to have a new license granted shall be borne by the applicant at such rates as the commissioner may determine. The commissioner may refuse to grant any cottage food operation license if the commissioner finds that the applicant has evidenced a pattern of noncompliance with the provisions of this section or sections 21a-62b to 21a-62g, inclusive. Prima facie evidence of a pattern of noncompliance shall be established if the applicant has operated, controlled or managed two or more cottage food operations for which such a license has been revoked.
(P.A. 18-141, S. 19.)