To assist in the uniform application of the rules adopted under this chapter, the director of agriculture and director of health shall jointly issue a letter of opinion when issuance of a letter of opinion is recommended by the retail food safety advisory council under section 3717.03 of the Revised Code. A letter of opinion shall be issued not later than sixty days after the date the recommendation is received from the council.

Terms Used In Ohio Code 3717.041

  • agriculture: includes farming; ranching; aquaculture; algaculture meaning the farming of algae; apiculture and related apicultural activities, production of honey, beeswax, honeycomb, and other related products; horticulture; viticulture, winemaking, and related activities; animal husbandry, including, but not limited to, the care and raising of livestock, equine, and fur-bearing animals; poultry husbandry and the production of poultry and poultry products; dairy production; the production of field crops, tobacco, fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, ornamental shrubs, ornamental trees, flowers, sod, or mushrooms; timber; pasturage; any combination of the foregoing; the processing, drying, storage, and marketing of agricultural products when those activities are conducted in conjunction with, but are secondary to, such husbandry or production; and any additions or modifications to the foregoing made by the director of agriculture by rule adopted in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Revised Code. See Ohio Code 1.61
  • Food: includes ice, water or any other beverage, food ingredients, and chewing gum. See Ohio Code 3717.01
  • Retail: means the sale of food to a person who is the ultimate consumer. See Ohio Code 3717.01
  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59

Each letter of opinion shall provide a detailed interpretation of the rules that are the subject of the retail food safety advisory council’s recommendation. Unless rules are adopted under this chapter that override the interpretation expressed in a letter of opinion, the interpretation shall be binding and applied uniformly throughout this state.