Office of Food Protection and Consumer Health Services
Overview:
The Office of Food Protection and Consumer Health Services is
composed of three divisions: Food Control, Milk Control, and Community
Services; and four administrative program areas: Licenses and
Permits, Rating Officers, Legal Counsel, Support Services.
Mission Statement:
To protect and promote public health and safety through licensing
and regulation of mandated programs, and to provide services and
leadership Statewide for the promotion of health and safety.
Division of Community Services:
- Has the inspection and enforcement responsibilities for
migrant labor camps statewide, mobile home parks in Carroll,
Charles, Dorchester, Prince George's, Somerset, and Talbot Counties,
and campgrounds in Prince George’s County.
- Inspects and certifies youth camps to ensure child health and
safety statewide.
- Investigates consumer product hazards and monitors recalls in
partnership with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Monitors bedding and upholstery products to ensure products are
sanitary and properly labeled.
- Performs plan reviews and issues permits for public pool and
spa construction or alteration; and conducts inspections to ensure
health and safety.
- Provides standards for outdoor musical festivals
to ensure that environmental sanitation is provided.
- Monitors prohibition of tobacco smoking in certain retail stores.
- Involved in standards and regulation development, policymaking,
training, and information sharing to promote health and safety.
Division of Food Control:
- Involved in policymaking, training and information sharing
- Conducts enforcement and epidemiological investigations of food
establishments.
- Has direct inspection and enforcement responsibilities
for shellfish plants, crabmeat plants, seafood HACCP, canneries,
food manufacturing plants, frozen food plants, ice manufacturing
plants, confectionery plants, food warehouses, soft drink and
water bottling plants.
- Has inspection and enforcement of food
processing plants, which are not delegated to the local health
departments.
- Conducts plan review for all food processing plants
and chain/franchise food service facilities.
- Registers out-of-state
bottled water and soft drink products.
- Coordinates the federal
requirements for the Child Nutritional and Commodity Food Distribution
Programs for DHMH facilities.
- Responds to emergencies involved
with food tampering or contamination.
Division of Milk Control:
The Maryland Division of Milk Control is responsible
for:
- Licensing & inspection of Dairy Farms,
Milk Processing Plants, Frozen Dessert Manufacturers, bulk
milk receiving or transfer stations, and wholesale distribution
facilities handling Grade A milk products
- Licensing and certification
of Dairy Farm Inspectors working with the Dairy Industry
- Licensing and evaluation of Bulk Milk Hauler/Samplers
- Licensing Milk Transportation Companies operating
within the State of Maryland
- Sampling and evaluation of test results
for both raw and finished dairy products
- Sanitation inspections
of bulk milk tanks
- Perform equipment, process, and facility reviews
- Investigation
of dairy related complaints
- Issuing export certificates of sanitation
and free sale for food products manufactured in Maryland
Administration
- Coordinating the budget for a multidisciplinary Office.
- Coordinating
the Office functions and its needs within DHMH.
- Assuring continued
interstate commerce via standardization of the Milk and Food
Processing Programs.
- Coordinating connections between this Agency
and other state and federal government agencies and industry.
License and Permits Section
- Coordinates each Division’s responsibilities relating
to the collection of licensing and permitting fee requirements.
- Issues all of the licenses, permits, and certificates once
the various Divisions have approved the applications.
Contact OFPCHS
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