Summary
Food Processing Plants and Warehouses means a commercial operation that manufactures, packages, labels or stores food for human consumption and does not provide food directly to a consumer.
Warehouse means a food storage facility.
Click on the Gray Tabs above for additional information on:
Laws and Regulations
• Code of Federal Regulations
• Iowa Food Code
Basic Requirements
• Information on the basic requirements of operating a Food Processing Plant or Food Storage Warehouse in the State of Iowa
Licensing
• Food Processing and Warehouse license application
Food Manager Resources
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Sources
Laws & Regulations
Iowa Law
Iowa Administrative Rules
Code of Federal Regulations
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Food Labeling (Applies to all types of packaged foods & dietary supplements)
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Conventional Foods (i.e. Breads, cereals, candies, chocolates, snack foods, beverages, sweeteners, processed fruits and/or vegetables, ice, and etc.)
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Acidified foods (i.e. pickled vegetables, pickles, some salsa formulations, and etc.)
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Bottled Water & Drinking Water
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Dietary Supplements
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Fish, Fishery Products, & Seafoods
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Juices (i.e. apple juice, apple cider, grape juice, tomato juice, and etc.)
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Low Acid Canned Foods (LACF) (i.e. canned vegetables, soups, and etc.)
Basic Requirements
The basic facility requirements are not prescriptively defined within the laws and regulations for manufacturers or warehouses.
Please contact the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals to be directed to the appropriate person to answer specific questions: 515-725-5342
Licensing
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Completed license applications and documents must be submitted to the appropriate Regulatory Authority at least 30 days prior to the anticipated opening date.
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A separate license must be applied for at each location where food production, sales or service take place.
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A license is non-transferable between locations or ownership.
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Once the application, other required documents and fees are received and processed, the Department will review the documents. Once the application is processed the applicant will be mailed or e-mailed the assigned inspector’s contact information. The applicant is responsible for contacting the inspector to schedule a pre-operational inspection.
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Plan submission is required; the Department will review the plans and communicate the results of the plan review to the applicant. Plan reviews generally take 3 to 4 weeks. It would be beneficial to submit the application prior to beginning construction, remodeling, or alteration of a facility. There is no fee for plan review. Please note, failure to provide all required information could delay plan approval. If you are remodeling a licensed facility already owned by you, submit plans only and notify your inspector.
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The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing is the Regulatory Authority for Manufactured Food Processing and Warehouse facilities.
Refunds
For information on License Application Fee Refunds click here: IAC 481.30.3(2)
If your facility is licensed and inspected by the DIAL's Food Safety Bureau, send your application and fee(s) to the address below:
Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing
Food Safety Bureau
6200 Park Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-725-5342
Resources
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Sources
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Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
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Fish, Fishery Products, and Seafood
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Acidified and Low-Acid Canned Foods
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Food & Dietary Supplement Labeling