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

Forms Download Page (for authorized users only)