Washington state lawmakers approve bill to exempt food trucks from commissary requirement
March 2, 2018
Washington state lawmakers have unanimously passed a bill to exempt food trucks from being required to operate from an approved commissary or servicing area, providing they meet certain conditions, according to a press release. The measure, sponsored by both political parties, passed the house 98-0 and the senate 49-0. The bill was supported by the Washington State Food Truck Association.
The bill allows a mobile food unit to be exempt from the state board of health or a local health jurisdiction's requirement to operate from an approved commissary or servicing area if certain conditions are met.
Conditions include:
- The mobile food unit contains all equipment and utensils needed for complete onboard preparation of an approved menu;
- The unit is protected from environmental contamination when not in use;
- The unit can maintain required food storage temperatures during storage, preparation, service and transit;
- The unit has a dedicated handwashing sink to allow frequent handwashing at all times;
- The unit has adequate water capacity and warewashing facilities to clean all multiuse utensils used on the mobile unit at a frequency specified in state board of health rules;
- The unit is able to store tools onboard needed for cleaning and sanitizing;
- All food, water and ice used on the mobile food unit is prepared onboard or otherwise obtained from approved sources;
- Wastewater and garbage will be sanitarily removed from the mobile food unit following an approved written plan or by a licensed service provider; and
- The local health officer approves the menu and plan of operations for the mobile food unit.
