Sec. 29. (a) Except as provided in subsection (h), this section applies to an individual vendor of a farmers market or roadside stand.

(b) As used in this section, "end consumer" means a person who is the last person to purchase any food product and who does not resell the food product.

(c) An individual vendor of a farmers market or roadside stand is not considered to be a food establishment and is exempt from the requirements of this title that apply to food establishments if the individual vendor's food product:

(1) is made, grown, or raised by an individual at the individual's primary residence, property owned by the individual, or property leased by the individual;

(2) is not a potentially hazardous food product;

(3) is prepared by an individual who practices proper sanitary procedures, including:

(A) proper hand washing;

(B) sanitation of the container or other packaging in which the food product is contained; and

(C) safe storage of the food product;

(4) is not resold; and

(5) includes a label that contains the following information:

(A) The name and address of the producer of the food product.

(B) The common or usual name of the food product.

(C) The ingredients of the food product, in descending order by predominance by weight.

(D) The net weight and volume of the food product by standard measure or numerical count.

(E) The date on which the food product was processed.

(F) The following statement in at least 10 point type: "This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the state department of health.".

(d) An individual vendor who meets the requirements in subsection (c) is subject to food sampling and inspection if:

(1) the state department determines that the individual vendor's food product is:

(A) misbranded under IC 16-42-2-3; or

(B) adulterated; or

(2) a consumer complaint has been received by the state department.

(e) If the state department has reason to believe that an imminent health hazard exists with respect to an individual vendor's food product, the state department may order cessation of production and sale of the food product until the state department determines that the hazardous situation has been addressed.

(f) For purposes of this section, the state health commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representatives may take samples for analysis and conduct examinations and investigations through any officers or employees under the state health commissioner's supervision. Those officers and employees may enter, at reasonable times, the facilities of an individual vendor and inspect any food products in those places and all pertinent equipment, materials, containers, and labeling.

(g) The state health commissioner may develop guidelines for an individual vendor who seeks an exemption from regulation as a food establishment as described in subsection (c). The guidelines may include:

(1) standards for best safe food handling practices;

(2) disease control measures; and

(3) standards for potable water sources.

(h) The department shall exclude from the definition of food establishment the sale of products described in subsection (i):

(1) by an individual vendor of a farmers market or roadside stand; and

(2) by a farmer selling directly to the end consumer on the farm where the product is produced and through delivery to the end consumer.

(i) Subsection (h) applies to the distribution of the following products:

(1) Poultry products produced under IC 15-17-5-11. Poultry products sold at a farmers market or roadside stand must be frozen at the point of sale. Poultry products sold on the farm where the product is produced must be refrigerated at the point of sale and through delivery.

(2) Rabbits that are slaughtered and processed on a farm for the purpose of conducting limited sales on the farm, at a farmers market, and at a roadside stand. Rabbit meat sold at a farmers market or roadside stand must be frozen at the point of sale. Rabbit meat sold on the farm where the product is produced must be refrigerated at the point of sale and through delivery.

Subsection (h) does not apply to the distribution of meat from a game animal.

(j) An individual vendor of a farmers market or roadside stand that sells eggs that meet the requirements under IC 16-42-11 is not considered to be a food establishment and is exempt from the requirements of this title that apply to a food establishment relating to the sale of eggs.

(k) Notwithstanding any other law, a local unit of government (as defined in IC 14-22-31.5-1) may not by ordinance or resolution require any licensure, certification, or inspection of foods or food products of an individual vendor who meets the requirements in subsection (c), including an individual vendor who delivers the individual's food or food product directly to an end consumer.

As added by P.L.86-2009, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.86-2012, SEC.1; P.L.128-2013, SEC.1; P.L.154-2014, SEC.1; P.L.202-2015, SEC.7; P.L.80-2016, SEC.3.