Albuquerque’s Environmental Health Department is seeking the public’s input as the city prepares to update its food service and retail ordinance.
Stakeholders and interested parties have the opportunity to review the draft ordinance and accompanying rules document and provide input.
The updated ordinance will replace the city’s existing food safety laws ordinances. The new ordinance is expected to deliver significant benefits to the food industry and consumers at large, according to a news release from the Environmental Health Department.
“We want to make sure that people who feel like this impacts them have an opportunity to weigh in on the ordinance before it’s finalized,” said Mark DiMenna, the department’s deputy director. “Working with food service providers helps us to ensure the highest level of food safety protection for our community.”
The current food sanitation ordinance dates back to 2010, said Maia Rodriguez, the department’s marketing manager, while other ordinances in the suite “haven’t been touched since 1974.”
Rodriguez said the market-food and raw milk rules were passed within the last two years.
The draft of the comprehensive ordinance includes provisions that would:
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
WHEN: May 6 at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Vincent E. Griego Chambers on the basement level of the Albuquerque Government Center.
VIRTUAL: The meetings are broadcast on GOV-TV and the City Council’s YouTube channel.
- Have the city adopt the 2022 U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Code, which includes new language related to food donations, allergen labeling requirements and other topics. The city currently operates on the 2009 version of the FDA Food Code.
- Establish guidelines for eateries to allow patrons’ pet dogs in outdoor dining areas. The proposed rules would require dogs to be leashed and under their owners’ control at all times.
- Update the permit and fee structure, grading of food establishments and enforcement guidelines that include civil penalties and criminal penalties and compliance plans.
The City Council is expected to take up the new ordinance at its May 6 meeting; if passed, it would go into effect this fall.
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