The Oregon Health Authority
Foodborne Illness Prevention Program works in partnership with local health departments, the food service industry and the public to reduce or eliminate the known causes of foodborne illness. The program provides technical assistance, training and education, coordinates rulemaking, supports the statewide licensing and inspection system and oversees the Food Handler Card program. Go to our
Food Sanitation Rules webpage for fact sheets and more information.
Food Service Facilities and COVID-19
Governor Brown has Reopened Oregon
On June 25, Governor Kate Brown signed Executive Order 21-15 to eliminate Oregon’s County Risk Level framework and most remaining COVID-19 health and safety restrictions starting June 30.
While the new Executive Order cancels most pandemic-related restrictions, it also reminds Oregon residents that masks are still required in health care settings, airports, airplanes and public transportation. The new Executive order also creates terms for ongoing recovery efforts that will be in effect through Dec. 31, 2021.
Notice of Proposed Permanent Rulemaking to Repeal COVID-19 Rules
The Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division is proposing to permanently repeal Oregon Administrative Rules in chapter 333, division 3 pertaining to implementation of the Governor's Executive Orders related to COVID-19 for food establishments, public pools and tourist facilities.
The Governor declared an emergency due to the public health threat posed by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and issued several Executive Orders (EO) that have been designated as public health laws. These rules being repealed allowed the Authority or a local public health authority to enforce the provisions of the Executive Orders, but only as long as the underlying Executive Orders are in effect. On June 25, 2021, the Governor issued EO 21-15 that lifted all COVID-19 restrictions and therefore these rules are no longer necessary.
You are being invited to review these proposed rules and to comment on them.
You may also file written comments before 5:00 p.m. on August 21, 2021 to the Public Health Division Rules Coordinator at the following address:
OHA, Public Health Division
Brittany Hall, Administrative Rules Coordinator
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 930
Portland, Oregon 97232
E-mail comments to: publichealth.rules@dhsoha.state.or.us or you may also send comments by fax to: (971) 673-1299.
Final rules will be filed after consideration of all comments.
For more details, please see the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, including the Statement of Need and Fiscal Impact and the full text.
If you have any questions or would prefer to be sent a hardcopy, please contact Dave Martin at (971) 673-3283 or david.c.martin@state.or.us.
Mobile Food and Temporary Restaurant Rule Changes
The Foodborne Illness Prevention Program has adopted new
rules relating to mobile food units (food trucks and food carts) and temporary restaurants. The new rules went into effect on February 1, 2020. The new rules were developed by a workgroup consisting of industry and local health department members and update the standards for mobile food units, which have not been subject to a major revision since 1997. These new rules also expand on the types of food items that are exempt from regulation at temporary events if certain provisions are met to protect public health. A summary of the rule changes is available in
English and
Spanish, but are not the only changes to the mobile food unit standards.
Plastic Straw Restriction Effective January 1, 2020
Senate Bill 90 was passed during the 2019 legislative session, which restricts food service establishments from providing plastic straws to customers unless they are specifically requested. A food service employee can only offer a plastic, single use straw to a customer if they are in/on their vehicle in the drive–thru. This restriction does not apply to health care facilities or residential care facilities that provide straws to patients or residents. For more information, please see our
Plastic Straws in Food Service Facilities fact sheet.
Web Portal for Inspection Reports
Notice: Due to a statewide data conversion, there will be a gap in posted inspection data from April-August 2021 as we transition to a new system and web portal.
The Oregon Health Authority has launched a new web portal that will allow people to easily find
inspection reports for food, public pool and lodging facilities, such as restaurants, swimming pools and hotels across Oregon.
The portal is provided as part of a software update to the statewide licensing and inspection system. The site will show semi-annual, biennial and annual routine inspections as well as reinspections.
**Please note that there is a 14-day lag from the date of inspection until it is shown on the website**