This bill amends the definition of a food processing plant in Iowa law to include operations located on farms or private residences that store officially processed packaged meat or poultry raised by the licensee for sale on a wholesale or retail basis. The revised definition clarifies that a food processing plant is a commercial operation that manufactures, packages, labels, or stores food for human consumption for distribution or sale on a wholesale basis, while also specifying what does not qualify as a food processing plant, such as premises covered by certain alcohol permits and raw milk dairies.

Additionally, the bill updates the licensing fee structure for food processing plants. It establishes a tiered fee system based on annual gross food and beverage sales, with fees set at $150 for sales under $200,000, $300 for sales between $200,000 and $2 million, and $500 for sales of $2 million or more. For food processing plants operating on farms or private residences that store processed meat or poultry, a flat fee of $75 is established. This change aims to streamline the licensing process and provide clearer guidelines for food processing operations in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 137F.1, 137F.6