State Information - New Hampshire

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Starting or Growing a Food Business in New Hampshire

No matter where you are in developing or growing your food business – the information on this page can help you work through each step of the process or find the resources you need.

4 Steps for Starting a Food Business in New Hampshire

Step 1: Licensing Your Food Business

Your first step is to determine who has regulatory authority for your food product(s). If your business will be or is in one of the 15 self-inspecting cities or towns listed below, you will need to contact the Health Inspector for that town.

For a contact list of these cities and towns, click here:
http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/FOODSANITATION/LIBRARY/Fact+Sheet/self-inspecting+.htm

NH Self-Inspecting Cities and Towns

All other locations in New Hampshire are regulated by the NH Department of Health and Human Services, Food Protection agency
http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/FOODSANITATION/default.htm

Bureau of Food Protection
NH Department of Health and Human Services
Street Address:
129 Pleasant St. Concord, NH 03301-3857
Mailing Address:
NH DHHS Office of Program Support
Food Sanitation Inspection & Licensing
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301-3857

NH Bureau of Food Protection Phone Numbers:
Main Number 603-271-4589 8-4:30 M-F
Toll Free Number 800-852-3345 x4589 8-4:30 M-F
TDD Number 800-735-2964 8-4:30 M-F
Fax Number 603-271-4859 8-4:30 M-F
After Hours Emergency 603-271-5300 24 Hours

The NH Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food has laws/rules for several food products, for example, maple and honey products, apples and cider. The Department’s website is: http://agriculture.nh.gov/

For a complete listing of Food Product laws and rules handled by the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food, go to: http://agriculture.nh.gov/rules/index.htm

Step 2: Become Familiar with Local and/or State Food Regulations

The state regulations for food are found in a document called:

He-P-2300 The NH Rules for the Sanitary Production and Distribution of Food
http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/FOODSANITATION/LAWS-RULES-POLICIES/default.htm

You will find the entire document vitally important for handling food safely. The sections listed below pertain specifically to food businesses:

Part He-P 2326 Mobile Food Units and Pushcarts
Part He-P 2327 Special Requirements for Bed and Breakfast Facilities
Part He-P 2328 Special Requirements for Food Service Establishments Manufacturing Food in a Residential Kitchen
Part He-P 2329 Food Processing Authorities
Part He-P 2330 Special Requirements for Food Service Establishments Processing Food in a Residential Kitchen
Part He-P 2331 Special Requirements for Food Service Establishments Processing Food in a Commercial Kitchen

In self-inspecting jurisdictions, ask your health inspector how you can obtain a copy of the food and small business regulations.

Step 3: Work with Your Health Officer/Food Inspector to Meet Regulatory Requirements

With your Food Inspector, you will:

• Review your food product, including recipe/formulation and processing method.
• Review plans/location for processing your food product (for example, home kitchen, commercial kitchen, co-packer).
• The Food Inspector will determine which location(s) your food product can be legally manufactured.
• Work with your Food Inspector to design and approve plans/renovations to home or commercial kitchen.
• Work with the Inspector to have her/him inspect your home or commercial kitchen before issuing your license. Make any modifications as specified by the Inspector.
• Get a process review for your food product(s) if required. (See Food Processing Authorities in He-P 2329).
• Complete the required paperwork, tests, or other requirements for the license application.
• Be sure to contact your Health Inspector before you add new products or if you change the formulation or processing method for your current product(s).

Step 4: Make Sure You Meet All Other Local/State Requirements for Business Owners

These resources will assist you with state business requirements.

http://www.nheconomy.com/nheconomy/dredweb/main/index.php

http://www.nheconomy.com/startbiz.pdf

http://www.nhsbdc.org/startup.htm

http://www.buzgate.org/nh/

For local regulations and requirements for businesses, contact your city or town office.

New Hampshire Food Business Resources [top of page]

Product Development

The Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship is an excellent resource for technical information regarding your product and processing technique, including:

• Publications such as “Small Scale Food Entrepreneurship: A Technical Guide For Food Ventures”
• Workshops on topics related to small food businesses
• Newsletter
• The Center is a recognized Food Processing Authority

Contact:

Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship
Food Research Lab
630 W. North Street
Geneva, NY 14456
888-624-6785
Fax: 315-787-2284
E-mail: necfe@cornell.edu
Website: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/necfe/

Process Authorities [top of page]

Regulations require some food products be reviewed by a Food Processing Authority prior to licensing. For a complete list of Food Processing Authorities recognized by the NH Bureau of Food Protection, access He-P-2300 at: http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/FOODSANITATION/LAWS-RULES-POLICIES/default.htm

See section He-P 2329.01 List of Food Processing Authorities.

Laboratories [top of page]

Please click here for listing of university and private laboratories

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plans [top of page]

New Hampshire regulations require some food businesses to develop and implement HACCP plans.
Contact:

Dr. Catherine Violette
Extension Professor and Extension Specialist, Food and Nutrition
129 Main St, 219 Kendall Hall
Durham, NH 03824
603-862-2496
Fax: 603-862-3758
Catherine.violette@unh.edu

Food Safety and Sanitation [top of page]

Food safety and sanitation is critical to your food business. UNH Cooperative Extension implements two food safety programs that provide important information about personal hygiene, time and temperature, and cross contamination. Please contact the Food Safety Educator in your county UNH Cooperative Extension Office listed below.

Belknap County
603-527-5475

Carroll County
Ann Hamilton (Ann.Hamilton@unh.edu)
603-539-3331

Cheshire County
Nancy Bradford-Sisson (Nancy.Bradford-Sisson@unh.edu)
603-352-4550

Coos County
Sue Buteau (Sue.Buteau@unh.edu)
603-788-4961

Grafton County
Deborah Maes (Deborah.Maes@unh.edu)
603-787-6944

Hillsborough County
Alice Mullen (Alice.Mullen@unh.edu)
603-641-6060

Merrimack County
Marilyn Sullivan (Marilyn.Sullivan@unh.edu)
603-796-2151

Rockingham County
Claudia Boozer-Blasco (Claudia.Boozer-Blasco@unh.edu)
603-679-5616

Strafford County
Thom Linehan (Thom.Linehan@unh.edu)
603-749-4445

Sullivan County
Gail Kennedy (Gail.Kennedy@unh.edu)
603-863-9200

Listings of Food Businesses in New Hampshire and Other Resources [top of page]

New Hampshire Specialty Food Products Directory
Compiled by the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food
Division of Agricultural Development
PO Box 2042, 25 Capitol St.
Concord, NH 03302
603-271-3788
http://agriculture.nh.gov/pdf/publications/NH_Specialty_Food_Products_Directory.pdf

For information about the NH Specialty Food Association contact:
Gail McWilliam-Jellie
NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food
Concord, NH 03302
603-271-3788
gmcwilliam@agr.state.nh.us

New Hampshire Stories, Inc.
The NH Stories promotes the people, products, and services of NH.
http://www.nhmade.com

Hannah Grimes Marketplace, Inc.
42 Main Street
Keene, NH 03431
603-352-6862
hannahgrimes@prexar.com

A non-profit organization which creates a marketplace to help members build successful and sustainable businesses. Hannah Grimes Marketplace offers a variety of educational programs and a newsletter. The Marketplace storefront in Keene showcases NH products.

New Hampshire Business Resources [top of page]

Small Business Administration (SBA)
Contact:

http://www.sba.gov/nh/index.html
New Hampshire District Office
143 North Main Street, Suite 202
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 225-1400
Fax: (603) 225-1409

Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Contact:

Seacoast SCORE - Chapter 0185 195 Commerce Way, Unit A
Portsmouth, NH 03801
PHONE: (603) 433-0575
EMAIL: chapter185@rscs.net

Merrimack Valley SCORE - Chapter 0199 275 Chestnut Street, Room 618
Manchester, NH 03103
PHONE: (603) 666-7561 FAX: (603) 666-7925
EMAIL: score199@juno.com

Concord SCORE - Chapter 0518 143 N Main Street, Room 202A
Concord, NH 03301
PHONE: (603) 225-1400 FAX: (603) 225-1409
EMAIL: score518@totalnetnh.net

New Hampshire Small Business Development Center
Contact:

http://www.nhsbdc.org/
Includes the Restaurant Initiative Program.
For a listing of offices in New Hampshire: http://www.nhsbdc.org/offices.htm

Center for Family Business
University of New Hampshire
24 Rosemary Lane, Brook House
Durham, NH 03824-3593
Barbara Draper, Center Director
(603) 862-1107
http://www.familybusiness.unh.edu/about/about.html

The purpose of the Center for Family Business is to offer services and information for entrepreneurial families.

Financial Assistance [top of page]

These resources provide information and resources on financing your small business.

New Hampshire Micro-Credit

http://www.microcreditnh.org/

Small Business Administration

http://www.sba.gov/nh/index.html

New Hampshire Community Loan Fund

http://www.nhclf.org/