1. (a) The purpose of this chapter is to safeguard public health and require that consumers' food is safe and wholesome, is not adulterated, and is honestly presented within the state.
2. (b) Except as provided in (c) of this section and 18 AAC 31.012, the requirements of this chapter apply to premises, practices, and procedures of food establishments, including each type of operation under each category of food service, market, and food processing establishment.
3. (c) The requirements of this chapter do not apply to those portions of a food establishment subject to 18 AAC 32 (milk and milk products) or 18 AAC 34 (seafood processing and inspection).
4. (d) The operator of a bar or tavern shall obtain a food service permit under this chapter for service of beverages even if other food is not served.
5. (e) Table A of this subsection illustrates how the categories and types of operation are classified in this chapter. TABLE A FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS Categories of Food Establishments FOOD SERVICE MARKET FOOD PROCESSING ESTABLISHMENT Types of Operations Within Each Category restaurant delicatessen takeout or drive-in caterer limited food service temporary food service mobile food unit kiosks schools institution bar or tavern club or organization labor camp other similar operationsconvenience store grocery grocery portion of a supermarket retail meat market retail seafood market retail bakery food bank mobile retail vendor food salvager food hub retail marijuana store other similar operationsAny establishment that processes food for wholesale distribution by - acidifying - curing - dehydrating - thermal processing of low-acid food - reduced-oxygen packaging - baking - bottling beverages - manufacturing ice - making jam, jelly, syrup or other confections - warehousing - coffee roasting - juicing - freezing - milling - fermenting - manufacturing marijuana products - manufacturing marijuana concentrates - other similar operations NOTE: A food establishment may fall under more than one category and may be subject to regulations in several areas of this chapter. For example, a restaurant that also produces a bottled beverage sold in wholesale markets would fall under the regulations for a food service as well as a food processing establishment for the different activities.

(Eff. 5/18/97, Register 142; am 12/19/99, Register 152; am 6/28/2001, Register 158; am 6/25/2020, Register 234; am 6/6/2021, Register 238)

Authority: AS 17.20.005, AS 17.20.072, AS 44.46.020, AS 17.20.010, AS 17.20.180, AS 17.20.020, AS 17.20.290