What???

[Roy Hersh]

State confirms local jurisdiction over winery tasting rooms

Mark Maghie, an attorney for the Washington State Wine Institute’s attorney, has questioned whether Washington State or King County has the regulatory authority under the Washington State Food Code or the King County Board of Health Code to regulate wine tasting. Recently, an Assistant Attorney General for both the Washington State Board of Health and the Washington State Department of Agriculture concluded that:

1) wineries or other entities that engage in the service of food and drink fall under Chapter 246-215 WAC, as enforced by the state Department of Health and the state’s local health jurisdictions; and

2) food service and wine tasting at wineries or at separate wine tasting facilities is not exempt from the definition of “food service establishment” in WAC 246-215.

Mr. Maghie received this message from the Washington State Department of Health on Sept. 14.