Food Licensing 101: Obtaining a Food License
Transcript of video:
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welcome to food licensing 101 this video was
created by the New Hampshire Department of Health
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and Human Services food protection section my name
is Colleen Smith I'm the administrator of the food
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protection section the information that follows
will be helpful to anyone wanting to obtain a food
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license this applies to new establishments and
existing establishments undergoing a change of
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ownership it also includes information for Brick
and Mortar facilities and push carts food trucks
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or other mobile food units for manufacturers of
packaged food products which offer either food
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directly to Consumers at a location other than
where is manufactured or to other businesses you
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are considered a food processor please visit our
website for more information about the application
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and requirements for food processors for those who
want to make food in their home kitchen this is
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allowable in some instances provided the food does
not require temperature control for safety please
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visit our website for more information about
allowable products and licensing requirements
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for Homestead food operations also please be aware
that there are 15 self-inspecting communities in
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New Hampshire these are highlighted on this map
if your food establishment is located in one of
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these communities you will need to contact
the local Authority regarding food licensing
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a list of contacts for the self-inspecting
cities and towns is available on our website
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finally if you are only operating in conjunction
with an occasional or temporary event you may be
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exempt from a food license please contact the food
protection office for more information on these
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exemptions for those wanting to obtain a food
license who are not food processors Homestead
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food operations or located in one of the 15
self-inspecting communities this video will
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cover the following topics that will be helpful
to you in obtaining your food license from the
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state of New Hampshire will cover frequently asked
questions in the licensing process including the
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floor plan application septic documentation
water requirements to licensing classes and
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submitting online applications and the
food licensing and inspection process
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there are a few very important considerations
and time sensitive steps in obtaining a food
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license our goal here is to provide Clarity
in what is required and by when in order to
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reduce any unnecessary delays or confusion
let's first discuss the requirement for a
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floor plan application addition to a food license
application some establishments are required to
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submit a floor plan application this application
should be submitted no less than 45 days before
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any construction is started certain licensed
class categories including retail stores with
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one no food preparation areas on-site vending
machines serving time temperature control for
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safety food sellers of pre-packaged Frozen USDA
meat or poultry bed and breakfasts push carts
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and other mobile food units are not required to
submit a floor plan application the floor plan
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application can be accessed on our website and
submitted online or in a paper form by a mail
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please note the floor plan application and
review process is for the purpose of approving
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the kitchen food operation layout and does
not constitute compliance by any other state
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or local or town regulatory agency the floor plan
application approval letter is not a food license
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a food service license application in
addition to this floor plan review must
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be received processed and approved prior to a
licensing inspection the next topic we would
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like to review is septic documentation food
establishments on a private septic whether
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new or existing are required to submit with
the food license application the approval for
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construction and the approval for operation
for the septic system these documents should
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State the septic system is approved for
this specific use of the food operation
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the terms and conditions listed in the approval
for construction application must match the food
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operation that you are applying for including
type of establishment An approved number of
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seats it is important to work on obtaining
this documentation as soon as possible
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the New Hampshire food protection section is
unable to answer questions related to septic
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documentation to obtain this documentation we
suggest contacting the current owner of the food
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establishment the local town hall or the New
Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
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please do not submit your application without
this documentation as it will cause delay in
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processing your food license application the
third topic we would like to discuss is water
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requirements there may be specific requirements
for the Food Service license depending on the
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water source for your food establishment
food establishments on a Municipal Water
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System only need to indicate Town water on the
appropriate space on the food license application
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those that are on a public water system as
classified by the New Hampshire Department
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of Environmental Services need to
indicate that on the food license
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application and provide the seven digit number
associated with that public water system
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if you have questions about the public water
system we recommend that you reach out to the New
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Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
those establishments on a private well need to
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provide water test results from an accredited
lab dated within the last six months for bacteria
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nitrates and nitrites for mobile units either of
commercial kitchen is required to support their
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water and wastewater needs or they also need to
submit the required information from the private
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water supply applications cannot State using
bottled water purchased involved from a store
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now that we have reviewed the most common issues
that come up prior to the application process we
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are going to review the license classes and how to
determine what class to apply for it is important
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to know what license Class you are applying for
before submitting your food license application
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a full list of licensed classes and
descriptions is available on our website
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if you are uncertain which license Class fits
your operation please reach out to our office
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via phone or email selecting the wrong class
or category of food license will cause delay
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in processing the license application
submitting your food license application
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online at our portal is the quickest way for
us to receive your food license application
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after registering as a user on the portal you
will have four application choices to choose from
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the first screen on the application provides
more information about which type of food
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operation it is for again it is important
to select the right class and category
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to avoid delays and processing your food
license application push carts food trucks
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are other types of mobile units have a specific
application which can be accessed on our website
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selecting the appropriate license Class
depends on the type of mobile unit and activity
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those mobile units preparing food and
Broadway beverages including coffee are
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considered a Class D mobile food unit these
should be fully enclosed and easily movable
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a hand sink shall be on board and there shall
be access to a three base sink with Bays large
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enough to immerse your largest piece of equipment
either on board or at another licensed facility
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a push cart is a non-self-propelled vehicle
limited to serving non-time temperature
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control for safety Foods package time time
temperature controlled for safety Foods
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maintained at proper temperatures or limited
to the preparation and serving of frankfurters
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a mobile food unit such as an ice cream
truck serving only packaged ice cream would
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be considered a class F other mobile food
unit once you've gathered all the required
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information and completed the application online
or on paper it's time to submit the application
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whether submitting the application online or by
paper application please double check to make
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sure the application and information is correct
including the owner name and ownership type
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applications will be processed approximately
two to three weeks after proceed
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once the application is processed an email will
be sent to the applicant with information to
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arrange a licensing inspection including the
contact information for your food inspector
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please contact the inspector 7 to 10 days prior to
the proposed opening date of your food operation
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all facilities require a provisional or
pre-operational licensing inspection prior
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to operating the food establishment what should
you do to prepare for the provisional licensing
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inspection hot and cold running water should be
turned on a refrigeration should be turned on
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and at a temperature at 41 degrees or below
all building materials shall be removed and
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stored and any requirements imposed by the
town must be completed and approved prior to
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a pre-opening provisional licensing inspection
your provisional licensing inspection serves
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as a license to operate no certificate is
printed at this time your provisional license
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inspection report serves as a license during
the interim time the provisional inspection
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report may be submitted to the New Hampshire
Liquor Commission if seeking a liquor license
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after you have received a provisional license
which is valid for 90 days you should expect your
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food inspector to return for an unannounced
inspection at some time during the 90-day
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provisional license period if this unannounced
inspection is satisfactory with no outstanding
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priority violations or construction violations
a final license will be issued this license is
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valid for one year from the month of provisional
license was issued and renewal notices will be
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sent to you approximately two months before the
food license expiration Please be aware that
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certain food establishments will be required to
have a certified food protection manager on staff
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this requirement needs to be met before a final
license can be issued more information about the
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certified food protection manager requirement and
training options is available on our website we
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hope you have found these tips useful as you
embarked on your new food service Venture we
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are here to help you if you have any questions
along the way here are the ways to contact us
