Senate Floor Leader Donald M. Manglona speaks during a meeting in the Senate chamber.
SENATE Floor Leader Donald M. Manglona has introduced Senate Bill 24-31, aimed at promoting home-based culinary businesses, also known as the cottage food industry, in the CNMI.
The cottage food industry, where small-scale food entrepreneurs operate their businesses from home to share their culinary talents, has become a growing trend in the U.S., particularly due to the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But according to S.B. 24-31, “it is difficult absent the necessary regulations in place.”
The purpose of the bill is to “support small food entrepreneurs by allowing the sale of small-risk, non-perishable foods and home-cooked meals prepared at residential kitchens, while ensuring food safety through reasonable regulations.”
S.B. 24-31 would allow the following cottage food items:
1) Baked goods like cookies, bread, cakes and pastries
2) Jams, jellies, and preserves
3) Dried fruits, nuts and seeds
4) Dry mixes (spice blends, baking mixes)
5) Granola and cereal bars
6) Other foods determined by the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Environmental Health Disease Prevention or EHDP.
The bill would require entrepreneurs to register their cottage food operations. They must also:
• Register with the EHDP and renew their registration annually;
• Complete a food safety training course and obtain a food handlers certificate from EHDP; and,
• Properly label all products with their business name and address, list of ingredients, allergen warnings if applicable, and a statement that the product was made in a home kitchen.
The bill is similar to the California Homemade Food Act, or AB1616, which took effect on January 1, 2013, allowing homemade food to be marketed to a broader audience.
