Virginia’s New Home Kitchen Food-Processing Exemptions
On July 1, 2013 an amendment to section 3.2-5130 of the Code of Virginia goes into effect that greatly expands the types of prepared foods individuals can make and sell from their homes or at farmers’ markets without a State inspection. This fact sheet addresses legislation that allows the limited sale of certain home-processed and home-canned foods in Virginia (House Bill 1852).
Selling home-processed honey is allowed by:
Residents preparing honey from his/her own hives;
Selling less than 250 gallons of honey annually;
Who do not process or sell other food products in addition to honey except as allowed by Virginia law;
That are in compliance with other chapters of Virginia’s honey-processing food laws.
Selling home-processed honey is NOT allowed by:
Residents not preparing honey from his/her own hives;
Selling more than 250 gallons of honey annually;
That process or sell other food products in addition to honey not allowed by Virginia law;
Processors that are not in compliance with other chapters of Virginia’s honey-processing food laws.
What are the labeling regulations for home-processed honey?
A label shall appear on the product that contains the:
Name of the preparer,
Physical address of the preparer,
Telephone number of the preparer,
The date of processing,
The contents of the container,
The net weight/quantity,
All ingredients used in preparing the product.
The principal display panel of the product label shall also contain the following statement:
PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION
Warning: Do not feed honey to infants under one year old
If you are contemplating processing honey for sale please refer to Virginia House Bill 1852 and all other State and local laws.