The person-in-charge shall ensure that:

1. A. The food processing plant and grounds around a food processing plant are:

   1. (1) Maintained free of attractants, breeding places, or harborage for pests and insects, including:

      1. (a) Unused equipment;
      2. (b) Debris;
      3. (c) Litter;
      4. (d) Waste; or
      5. (e) High weeds or grass; and
   2. (2) Adequately drained to promote sanitation and prevent breeding places for pests and insects;

2. B. The design and construction of the plant facilitates maintenance and sanitary operations for food processing and:

   1. (1) Is suitable in size;
   2. (2) Affords protection against the weather; and

   3. (3) Minimizes the potential for contamination and allergen cross-contact by providing:

      1. (a) Adequate space for the placement of:

         1. (i) Equipment;
         2. (ii) Utensils; and
         3. (iii) Materials storage; and
      2. (b) Effective designing the flow of food through the plant;

3. C. Except as provided for in Regulation .15 of this chapter, a room or area in which food is processed or stored or in which utensils, equipment, or food-packaging materials are cleaned, sanitized, or stored:

   1. (1) Is separated from other rooms or areas in the plant to preclude allergen cross-contact and contamination by:

      1. (a) A distance that precludes allergen cross-contact and contamination; or

      2. (b) Tight fitting:

         1. (i) Walls;
         2. (ii) Ceilings; and
         3. (iii) Self-closing doors;

   2. (2) Is, if not refrigerated, mechanically ventilated using exhaust and supply fans to ensure:

      1. (a) Filtered air is supplied to provide a positive air pressure in the room;
      2. (b) Condensation and grease do not accumulate on room surfaces and equipment; and

      3. (c) Removal of excessive:

         1. (i) Grease vapors;
         2. (ii) Steam;
         3. (iii) Heat; and
         4. (iv) Odors;

   3. (3) Has a floor, walls, and ceiling that are:

      1. (a) Smooth;
      2. (b) Washable;
      3. (c) Easily cleanable; and
      4. (d) Impervious to water;
   4. (4) Has only the exposed overhead pipes, ducts, conduits, evaporators, and other structures that are needed for proper processing, which are installed so that food is protected against leakage;

   5. (5) Has floor-wall junctures that are:

      1. (a) Coved; and
      2. (b) Impervious to water;

   6. (6) Has aisles or working spaces between equipment and walls that:

      1. (a) Are unobstructed;
      2. (b) Of adequate width to permit employees to perform their duties; and
      3. (c) Protect against the contamination of food, food-contact surfaces, or food-packaging materials by clothing or personal contact;

   7. (7) Provides adequate lighting in all areas that:

      1. (a) Uses shatter-resistant light bulbs, fixtures, skylights, or other light sources if suspended over exposed food, food-contact surfaces, or food-packaging materials in any step of preparation; or
      2. (b) Otherwise protects against food contamination in case of glass breakage; and
   8. (8) Has well-maintained, sealed walls, floors, and ceilings to prevent entry or harborage areas for pests;

4. D. Except as provided for in Regulation .15 of this chapter, an area is designated for employees to eat, drink, and securely store personal items which is separate from areas designated for the cleaning, sanitation, or storage of:

   1. (1) Utensils;
   2. (2) Equipment; or
   3. (3) Food-packaging materials;
5. E. The food processing plant is completely separated by solid, impervious floors, walls, and ceilings with no connecting openings from areas used as living quarters; and

6. F. Plans provided for review to the Department of the plant, facilities, and grounds design and construction that are not provided for in this regulation:

   1. (1) Provide for adequate food safety, food protection, and sanitation; and
   2. (2) Are equivalent to regulatory and industry standards.

Authority: Agriculture Article, §4-311; Health-General Article, §§18-102, 21-101, 21-102, 21-211, 21-234,
21-301, 21-304, 21-308, 21-309.1, 21-309.2, and 21-336; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: November 18, 1960

Amended effective January 1, 1964; June 8, 1965; July 1, 1966; April 1, 1967; December 1, 1970

Regulation .29 adopted effective September 21, 1979 (6:19 Md. R. 1519)

Regulation .29 amended effective December 14, 1979 (6:25 Md. R. 1980)

Chapter revised as an emergency provision effective August 2, 1989 (16:17 Md. R. 1882); adopted permanently effective December 25, 1989 (16:25 Md. R. 2711)

Regulation .01B amended effective September 28, 1992 (19:19 Md. R. 1708)

Regulation .02B amended effective September 28, 1992 (19:19 Md. R. 1708); April 3, 2000 (27:6 Md. R. 641)

Regulation .31 amended effective September 28, 1992 (19:19 Md. R. 1708)

Regulation .33A amended effective March 4, 1991 (18:4 Md. R. 447); September 28, 1992 (19:19 Md. R. 1708); October 6, 1997 (24:20 Md. R. 1404)

Regulations .01 — .37 repealed and new Regulations .01 — .20 adopted effective November 22, 2004 (31:23 Md. R. 1652)

Regulation .02B amended effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Regulation .03B amended effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Regulation .08A amended effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Regulation .09B amended effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Regulation .10D amended effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Regulation .17A amended effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Regulation .19C, D amended effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Regulation .19G adopted effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Regulation .21 adopted effective May 4, 2009 (36:9 Md. R. 651)

Chapter revised as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2010 (37:23 Md. R. 1607); revised permanently effective January 24, 2011 (38:2 Md. R. 83)

Regulation .02B amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337); January 6, 2014 (40:26 Md. R. 2163); February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272)

Regulation .03B amended effective February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272)

Regulation .04 amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .05 amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .07B amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .08A amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .09D amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337); February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272)

Regulation .13A amended effective February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272)

Regulation .14 amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .14B amended effective February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272)

Regulation .15A, D amended effective February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272)

Regulation .16A amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337); February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272)

Regulation .17A amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .17D, E adopted effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .17E amended effective January 6, 2014 (40:26 Md. R. 2163)

Regulation .18 amended effective February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272)

Regulation .19A amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .20C, D amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337); January 6, 2014 (40:26 Md. R. 2163)

Regulation .20E adopted effective January 6, 2014 (40:26 Md. R. 2163)

Regulation .20E adopted effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .22 repealed effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .23G amended effective January 6, 2014 (40:26 Md. R. 2163)

Regulation .28C amended effective February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272)

Chapter revised effective August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 708)

Regulation 15A, B, F amended effective January 5, 2026 (52:26 Md. R. 1309)

Regulation .16A, C amended effective January 5, 2026 (52:26 Md. R. 1309)