97.30 Retail food establishments.
97.30
97.30 Retail food establishments.97.30(1)
(1) Definitions. In this section:97.30(1)(a)
(a) "Agent city or county" means a city or county granted agent status by the department under s. 97.41.97.30(1)(b)
(b) "Food processing" has the meaning given under s. 97.29 (1) (g).97.30(1)(bm)
(bm) Except as provided by the department by rule, "potentially hazardous food" means a food that requires temperature control because it is in a form capable of supporting any of the following:97.30(1)(bm)1.
1. Rapid and progressive growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms.97.30(1)(bm)2.
2. Growth and toxin production of Clostridium botulinum.97.30(1)(bm)3.
3. In raw shell eggs, growth of Salmonella enteritidis.97.30(1)(c)
(c) "Retail food establishment" means a permanent or mobile food processing facility where food processing is conducted primarily for direct retail sale to consumers at the facility, a mobile facility from which potentially hazardous food is sold to consumers at retail or a permanent facility from which food is sold to consumers at retail, whether or not that facility sells potentially hazardous food or is engaged in food processing. "Retail food establishment" does not include a restaurant or other establishment holding a permit under s. 254.64, to the extent that the activities of the establishment are covered by that permit.97.30(2)
(2) License.97.30(2)(a)
(a) Requirement. Except as provided under par. (b), no person may operate a retail food establishment without a valid license issued by the department or an agent city or county. Licenses expire on June 30 annually. Each retail food establishment shall have a separate license. A license is not transferable between persons or establishments. Application for a license shall be made on a form provided by the department, or by the agent city or county, and be accompanied by the applicable fees required under sub. (3) or s. 97.41. An application shall indicate whether food processing is conducted at the establishment and shall specify the nature of any food processing activities. An application shall include other information reasonably required by the department, or by the agent city or county, for licensing purposes.97.30(2)(b)
(b) Exemptions.97.30(2)(b)1.
1. A license is not required under this section for any of the following:97.30(2)(b)1.a.
a. A retail food establishment that sells only packaged foods or fresh fruits and vegetables, if the establishment does not sell potentially hazardous food and does not engage in food processing.97.30(2)(b)1.b.
b. A retail food establishment which is primarily engaged in selling fresh fruits and vegetables, honey, cider or maple syrup produced by the operator of the retail food establishment, if that retail food establishment is not engaged in other food processing activities.97.30(2)(b)1.c.
c. A retail food establishment which is exempted from licensing by the department by rule. If a restaurant or other establishment for which a permit has been issued under s. 254.64 is incidentally engaged in operating a retail food establishment at the same location, the department may exempt by rule the restaurant or establishment from licensing under this section. Rules under this subd. 1. c. shall conform to a memorandum of understanding between the department and the department of health services, under which the department of health services agrees to inspect the retail food establishment operations on behalf of the department.97.30(2)(b)1.d.
d. A retail food establishment where popcorn is popped, if the retail food establishment is not required to obtain a license under this section to sell or process any other food.97.30(2)(b)2.
2. If a dairy plant licensed under s. 97.20, a food processing plant licensed under s. 97.29 or a meat establishment licensed under s. 97.42 is incidentally engaged in the operation of any retail food establishment at the same location, the department may exempt by rule that establishment from licensing under this section.97.30(3)
(3) Fees; retail food establishments licensed by department.97.30(3)(a)
(a) License fee. An applicant for a retail food establishment license shall pay the license fee specified under sub. (3m), based on gross receipts from food sales at the retail food establishment during the previous license year. If a retail food establishment was not licensed during the previous license year, a license applicant shall pay an estimated license fee based on projected gross receipts from food sales in the license year for which application is made. At the end of the license year for which an estimated fee has been paid, the licensee shall submit a report to the department stating the actual gross receipts from food sales during the license year. The license fee for that year shall be recomputed based on actual gross receipts. If the license fee based on actual gross receipts differs from the estimated license fee which was paid, the licensee shall pay the balance due or receive a credit from the department on the next year's license fee.97.30(3)(am)
(am) Weights and measures inspection fee. An applicant for a retail food establishment license shall pay the weights and measures inspection fee specified under sub. (3m), based on gross receipts from food sales at the retail food establishment during the previous license year. If a retail food establishment was not licensed during the previous license year, a license applicant shall pay an estimated weights and measures inspection fee based on projected gross receipts from food sales in the license year for which application is made. At the end of the license year for which an estimated fee has been paid, the licensee shall submit a report to the department stating the actual gross receipts from food sales during the license year. The weights and measures inspection fee for that year shall be recomputed based on actual gross receipts. If the weights and measures inspection fee based on actual gross receipts differs from the estimated weights and measures inspection fee which was paid, the licensee shall pay the balance due or receive a credit from the department on the next year's weights and measures inspection fee.97.30(3)(b)
(b) Reinspection fee. If the department reinspects a retail food establishment because the department finds a violation of this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter, the department shall charge the retail food establishment operator the reinspection fee specified under sub. (3m). A reinspection fee is payable when the reinspection is completed, and is due upon written demand from the department. The department may issue a demand for payment when it issues a license renewal application form to the retail food establishment operator.97.30(3)(c)
(c) Surcharge for operating without a license. An applicant for a retail food establishment license shall pay a license fee surcharge of $100 or twice the amount of the annual license fee specified under sub. (3m) whichever is less, if the department determines that, within one year prior to submitting a license application, the applicant operated the retail food establishment without a license in violation of this subsection. Payment of this license fee surcharge does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability which results from the unlicensed operation of the retail food establishment, but does not constitute evidence of a violation of any law.97.30(3)(d)
(d) Licensing contingent on payment of fees. The department may not issue or renew a retail food establishment license unless the license applicant pays all fees which are due and payable under this subsection and sub. (3m), as set forth in a statement from the department. The department shall refund a fee paid under protest if the department determines that the fee was not due and payable as a condition of licensing under this subsection.97.30(3m)
(3m) Fee amounts. Unless otherwise required by department rule, the fees required under sub. (3) are:97.30(3m)(a)
(a) For a retail food establishment that has annual food sales of $25,000 or more but less than $1,000,000 and that processes potentially hazardous food, the following amounts:97.30(3m)(a)1.
1. An annual license fee of $90.97.30(3m)(a)2.
2. A reinspection fee of $60.97.30(3m)(a)3.
3. An annual weights and measures inspection fee of $45, except that this fee does not apply to a retail food establishment that is located in a municipality that has established a municipal department of weights and measures under s. 98.04 (1) or that recovers fees from the retail food establishment under s. 98.04 (2) for the purpose of enforcement of the provisions of ch. 98.97.30(3m)(b)
(b) For a retail food establishment that has annual food sales of $1,000,000 or more and that processes potentially hazardous food, the following amounts:97.30(3m)(b)1.
1. An annual license fee of $210.97.30(3m)(b)2.
2. A reinspection fee of $140.97.30(3m)(b)3.
3. An annual weights and measures inspection fee of $100, except that this fee does not apply to a retail food establishment that is located in a municipality that has established a municipal department of weights and measures under s. 98.04 (1) or that recovers fees from the retail food establishment under s. 98.04 (2) for the purpose of enforcement of the provisions of ch. 98.97.30(3m)(c)
(c) For a retail food establishment that has annual food sales of $25,000 or more and that is engaged in food processing, but that does not process potentially hazardous food, the following amounts:97.30(3m)(c)1.
1. An annual license fee of $80.97.30(3m)(c)2.
2. A reinspection fee of $80.97.30(3m)(c)3.
3. An annual weights and measures inspection fee of $25, except that this fee does not apply to a retail food establishment that is located in a municipality that has established a municipal department of weights and measures under s. 98.04 (1) or that recovers fees from the retail food establishment under s. 98.04 (2) for the purpose of enforcement of the provisions of ch. 98.97.30(3m)(cm)
(cm) For a retail food establishment that has annual food sales of less than $25,000 and that is engaged in food processing, an annual license fee of $40 and a reinspection fee of $40.97.30(3m)(d)
(d) For a retail food establishment that is not engaged in food processing, an annual license fee of $20 and a reinspection fee of $50.97.30(4)
(4) Fees; retail food establishment licensed by agent city or county. Subsection (3) does not apply to any retail food establishment licensed by an agent city or county under s. 97.41. An applicant for a retail food establishment license issued by an agent city or county shall pay fees established by the agent city or county under s. 97.41.97.30(5)
(5) Rule making. The department may promulgate rules to establish the fees required under sub. (3) or to govern the operation of retail food establishments. Rules may include standards for the construction and maintenance of facilities; the design, installation, cleaning and maintenance of equipment and utensils; personnel sanitation; food handling, display and storage; and food sources and food labeling.97.30 - ANNOT.
History: 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 174; 1991 a. 39, 210; 1993 a. 16, 27, 264, 491; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3599, 9126 (19); 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a).97.30 - ANNOT.
Cross Reference: See also chs. ATCP 55 and 75, Wis. adm. code.