1. (a) For the purpose of this Section, "food product sampling" means food product samples distributed free of charge for promotional or educational purposes only.

2. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, a vendor who engages in food product sampling at a farmers' market may do so without obtaining a State or local permit to provide those food product samples, provided the vendor complies with the State and local permit requirements to sell the food product to be sampled and with the food preparation, food handling, food storage, and food sampling requirements specified in the administrative rules adopted by the Department to implement Section 3.3 and Section 3.4 of this Act.

   The Department of Public Health is instructed to establish a food sampling at farmers' market training and certification program to fulfill this requirement. The Department shall adopt rules for the food sampling training and certification program and product sampling requirements at farmers' markets. The Department may charge a reasonable fee for the training and certification program. The Department may delegate or contract authority to administer the food sampling training to other qualified public and private entities.

3. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Agriculture, a local municipal health department, or a certified local health department may inspect a vendor at a farmers' market to ensure compliance with the provisions in this Section. If an imminent health hazard exists or a vendor's product has been found to be misbranded, adulterated, or not in compliance with the permit exemption for vendors pursuant to this Section, then the regulatory authority may invoke cessation of sales until it deems that the situation has been addressed.

(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 100-805, eff. 1-1-19.)