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Food
Service Operations
A
food establishment is an operation that stores, prepares,
packages, serves, or otherwise provides food for human consumption
such as: a food service establishment, retail food store,
satellite or catered feeding location, catering
operation if the operation provides food directly to a consumer
or to a conveyance used to transport people, market, remote
catered operations conveyance used to
transport people, institution; or food bank;
and that relinquishes
possession of food to a consumer directly, or indirectly through
a delivery service such as home delivery of grocery orders,
restaurant takeout orders, or delivery service that is
provided by common carriers.
Food Service
Establishments
Environmental
and Consumer Health performs inspections and permitting for
food service establishments in Galveston County. The purpose
of this program is to reduce the likelihood of disease transmission
through food. The regulation
"An Order Establishing
the Permitting and Enforcement of State Law and State Rules
for Food Service Establishments, Retail Food Stores, Mobile
Food Vending Units, and Roadside Food Vendors" describes
the requirements for obtaining a food service permit from
the Health District.
Foods Service Establishments PERMIT fees
| Risk Level |
Fees |
Inspection
Frequency |
| High Risk |
$300 annually |
Minimum 4 times per year |
| Medium Risk |
$275 annually |
Minimum 2 times per
year |
| Low Risk |
$225 annually |
Minimum 1 time per year |
To obtain a permit, follow
the procedures outlined in "Opening
a Food Establishment in Galveston County".
Mobile Food Service Operations
A mobile food service unit is a vehicle mounted food establishment
designed to be readily movable.
Permitting, Fees,
and Inspections
Licensing, fees, and inspection frequency
is determined by a risk assessment of the mobile unit operations.
They are as follows:
| Risk Level |
Fee |
Inspection Frequency |
| High Risk |
$300 annually |
Minimum 4 times per
year |
| Medium Risk |
$275 annually |
Minimum 2 times per year |
| Low Risk |
$225 annually |
Minimum 1 times per year |
To obtain a permit for a mobile unit, follow the procedures outlined in
"Procedures for Obtaining a Foodservice Permit
for a Mobile Unit".
Temporary Food Service Operations
A temporary food service operation is a food establishment
that operates for no more than 14 consecutive days in
conjunction with a single event or celebration.
Permitting, Fees, and Inspections
The permit fee is $75.00
unless the proceeds from the event are going to an organization
designated by the Internal Revenue Service as non-profit.
The identification number issued by the IRS must be provided
at the time of obtaining the permit to waive the permitting
fee. Business and personal checks are NOT accepted as payment for temporary food permits.
When obtaining a permit
the following information must be provided:
An inspection will be performed by a Health District inspector during the
event to ensure compliance.
Farmers
Markets
A Farmers Market is an organized
entity/operation, certified by the Texas Department of
Agriculture, that allows a group of food growers/manufacturers
to market and sell their farm produce and products in a specific
location. These products would include herbs and spices in their
natural or dried state, vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries,
grains, honey, watermelons and other melons, and cantaloupes in
their natural state as well as farm produce, shelled peas or
legumes, yard eggs and packaged foods processed or manufactured
by a vendor in a licensed food establishment and packaged and
labeled according to law. Vendors of farm products may operate
under the Farmers Market permit if registered with the Market
and are in compliance with temporary food service regulations.
The Farmers Market operator is responsible for its vendors
compliance with required food service regulations. The fee for a
Farmers Market permit is:
$175.00
– Farmer Market (< 10 farm product vendors)
$275.00
– Farmer Market ( 10 or more farm product vendors)
Permitting
Vendors registered with a Farmers Market to
sell goods other than farm products listed above may operate
with an annual temporary permit usable only within the confines
of the market. These vendors may operate only during the
Market’s stated operating hours. The fee for a non-farm product
annual temporary permit is $175.00 per year in association with
a permitted Market. These fees are not refundable.
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