The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Food and Feed Safety Division is considering improvements to how the MDA structures licensing for food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The Minnesota Legislature last made major modifications to the MDA food licensing in 2003. In 2024 the MDA initiated a Food Licensing Modernization Project to identify and plan actions to address challenges with current food licensing. The MDA hopes to create a simplified structure that allows businesses to change over time and that better relates to food safety risks. The MDA used input to develop a potential new licensing model, then made adjustments based on feedback.
Our desired outcomes include:
- Simplification
- Improved business access
- Capability for business innovation
- Flexibility for business adaptability and evolution
- Correlation to food safety risk
- Sustainability for program funding
Phase1: Input to Inform a Potential Model
The MDA initiated the engagement process with an independent consultant, The Improve Group, interviewing people affected by food licensing in Minnesota. All interviewees had some experience with MDA Food Licensing. They brought experience from grocery, retail, chain stores, small entrepreneurs, cottage food, farms, food trucks, farmers’ markets, breweries, vineyards, commercial kitchens, culturally specific enterprises, Native Nation food systems, and researchers.
Read the Stakeholder Input of the Food Licensing Model Report (PDF) to learn more about the input shared during these interviews that was used to develop a potential new model with a few license categories: Home Food Processor, Small-Scale Food Handler, and Food Handler. that was used to develop a potential new model with a few license categories: Home Food Processor, Small-Scale Food Handler, and Food Handler.
Phase 2: Potential Model Feedback
In response to input received, the MDA developed a new potential licensing model with the aims of simplifying and better facilitating business access, innovation, and adaptation/evolution. Phase 2 focused on soliciting feedback on the potential licensing model from potential licensees and their supporting partners. The MDA and The Improve Group used a survey, listening sessions, and a virtual bulletin board to collect feedback from people affected by license structures.
Home Food Processor Specific Input
A new Home Food Processor license category was included in the potential model. As current food safety regulations for retail, manufacturing, and wholesale activities cannot be fully achieved in private, residential kitchens, food safety requirements specific to this new category need to be developed. This includes what activities the license category would allow and what requirements or limitations are needed for residential producers.
The IG hosted a series of focus groups on this topic. You can read more about the input received from these focus groups in the Partner Input to Develop Home Food Processor License Report (PDF).
You can read all the reports in the Partner Feedback on the Potential Food Licensing Model Summary Report (PDF) to learn more about the feedback and recommendations received during our Food Licensing Modernization efforts.
Next Steps
As we explore options to address as much of the feedback as possible, our goal is to ensure any potential changes to the MDA’s food licensing structure result in positive improvements for all our partners. The MDA is continuing to gather feedback from regulatory partners and improving the potential licensing model based on the information received from all participants in the process.
Be sure to check this webpage often for additional updates.
Please reach out to Jeff Luedeman with any questions about this improvement process. For all other licensing questions please use the Food Licensing Liaison Request.
