Individual Vendors Licenses Required at Markets in Pennsylvania

Farmers selling their produce at markets this summer in Montgomery and Bucks counties have to contend with the new Act 106 passed by the Pennsylvania Health Department on November 23, 2010. Amongst other provisions, the new act affects farmer market business licensing. While in the past, the markets held one ‘master’ license that covered all the vendors, now market stands that sell certain foods must get individual vendors licenses.

The licenses are $103 a year and $82 to renew each year.

Although certain food vendors are exempt from the licensing laws, such as vendors who only sell raw agricultural commodities or ones who sell pre-packaged, non-potentially hazardous food, there is much dissatisfaction amongst vendors who are required to obtain the license.

“Just so we understand the scope of what we’re talking about, the three of us (commissioners) have been in office for three-and-a-half years, and we’ve tackled all sorts of complex issues that have captured the public’s attention,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr., as quoted in The Times Herald. “I think I can speak for my colleagues when I say we have gotten more emails from this issue in the last four days than on any other issue we’ve had to deal with.”

Much to market vendors’ displeasure, local officials in Montgomery and Bucks counties propose superseding the states requirements by enacting stricter local rules to help abide by the states regulations.

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