ApplicationInstructions
1. ReviewtheHowTodocumentforcompletingthisapplicationandpreparingforyourinspection.
2. Completepage1,providingalloftherequestedbasicbusiness/ownerinformation.Pleasedonotsubmityour
applicationwithoutanyoftherequiredinformationasitwillnotbereviewedwithoutit.Submitallofittogetherat
thesametime.
● Noteaboutpetsinthehome:Ifyoumarked“Yes”,areaswherefoodisprepared,orstored,wherepackaging
materialisstoredandwhereequipmentiscleanedandstoredmustbecompletelyenclosed/separatedfromthe
restofthehomeinordertobeconsideredforhomebasedfoodmanufacturing.Petsmustbeexcludedfrom
theseareasatalltimes.Forexample,foodprocessingandstorageareasmustbefittedwithasolidhinged
door(s)thatcanbelatched/closedshut.Placingpetsinclosedroomsinotherareasofthehomeorinstalling
"babygates"willnotsatisfythisrequirement.
● Noteonhoursofoperation:inspectionsareunannouncedandunscheduled.Providealistoftheweekdaysand
timesthatoperationwouldnormallyoccur.Theinspectorwillvisitforinspectionduringthesehours.
3. Providewrittendocumentationthatyouhaveapprovalfromthelocality’szoningofficetooperateafood
processingbusinessontheproperty.Alternatively,ifyouareusingacommunitykitchen,providewritten
documentationthatyouhavetheoperator’spermission.Anyverifiabledocumentationisacceptable,suchas
emailcorrespondence,officialletterorother.
4. Provideadiagramofthefoodprocessingandstorageareas.
5. Ifthepropertyisusingaprivatewatersupply(e.g.well),youmustprovideevidencethatthewaterispotable.A
recentcopy(lessthansixmonthsold)oflabresultsshowingthatColiformbacteriawere“absent”inasampleof
yourwellwaterisrequired.ThetestinglaboratorythatyouusemustbecertifiedbytheVirginiaSafeDrinking
WaterProgram.Alistoflabsthatarecertifiedforwatertestingcanbefoundatthislink:VirginiaSafeDrinking
WaterCertifiedLaboratories
6. Ifprivatesewagedisposalisused,obtaindocumentationfromanAlternativeOnsiteSoilEvaluator(AOSE),
ProfessionalEngineer(PE)orVirginiaDepartmentofHealththatyoursystemisadequatefortheintendeduseof
yourbusiness.Pleaseseehttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1nIVtqik9hDqAfzsaJX8J35dnknIG3SvI&usp=sharingfor
additionalinformationandtolocateaserviceprovider.NOTE:Allserviceprovidersmustbeproperlylicensed
throughtheDepartmentofProfessionalandOccupationalRegulation(DPOR).
7. Asafoodmanufacturer,youandanyemployeesofyourbusinessmustbetrained,andyoumustprovide
documentationofsaidtraining.Providedocumentationthatyouandanyemployeeshavereceivedtraininginthe
principlesoffoodhygieneandfoodsafety,includingtheimportanceofemployeehealthandpersonalhygiene,as
appropriatetoyourfoodproducts,yourfacilityandtheemployee’sassignedduties.Alistofsuggestedcoursesis
providedwithinthisapplication,butyoumayobtaintrainingelsewhereaslongasitisadequate.Alsoprovidedisa
templateyoumayusetodocumentemployeetraining.Eveniftheowneristheonlyemployee,atrainingrecord
needstobemaintained.
8. Providealistofallproductsyouplantomake,aswellastheplannedlocationofdistribution.
9. Providealistofalloftheingredientsyouwillbeusing,andthesourceofthoseingredients.
10. CompleteaProductInformationSheetforeachproductyouplantomake.Mark“TradeSecret”ifyour
formulation/processisconfidential.Wewillnotshareyourprocess,butyoumustprovideit.
11. Provideacopyofthelabelforeachproduct(mocklabelsareacceptableifactuallabelshavenotyetbeen
made).Labelsmustcomplywiththelabelingregulations,21CFR101.
12. SubmitapplicationstotheVDACSFoodSafetyProgram.Anincompleteapplicationwillcausedelayinitbeing
processed.Hand‐writtenapplicationswillnotbeaccepted.
Byemail(preferred):foodsafety@vdacs.virginia.gov
Bymail:ATTN:FoodSafetyPOBox1163Richmond,VA23218
Byfax:804‐371‐7792
13. Onceyourapplicationissubmitted,itwillbereviewed,andyouwillbecontactedbythereviewerifthereareany
questions.Whentheapplicationreviewiscomplete,aFoodSafetySpecialistwillcontactyoutoschedulethe
initialinspection.
14. Ifyoudonotprovidearesponsetothereviewer’scommentswithinfourmonths,yourapplicationwillbe
discarded.Anewapplicationwillneedtobesubmittedifyouwishtocontinue.