Albuquerque, NM Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

City Code Section 9-6-13 states the training duty in one operative sentence: employees of a Food Establishment must be trained in food safety consistent with the Rules the Enforcement Authority, the Mayor or a designated agent, promulgates under Section 9-6-5(G), which directs the Authority to establish requirements for Food Establishment employees to be properly trained in food safety. A Food Establishment is defined in Section 9-6-3 as any place where food is stored, processed, packaged or prepared for human consumption, whether or not there is a charge, but excludes homemade-food operations exempt under the New Mexico Homemade Food Act, a private-home kitchen, home-delivery services, and a private home that only receives catered food.

Training travels with the permit: Section 9-6-7 bars operating a Food Establishment without a valid permit, and Section 9-6-8 lets the Enforcement Authority suspend or revoke that permit or require a written compliance plan when the business falls out of compliance with the ordinance or Rules, which include the training standard. Inspectors document compliance under Section 9-6-11, which authorizes entry, sampling and, if entry is refused, a search-warrant application to Metropolitan or District Court. Every inspection produces a letter Grade that Section 9-6-11(D) requires the establishment to post in a conspicuous, publicly visible spot, and Section 9-6-11(E) requires the Authority to give the permit holder a written list of corrective actions and a deadline.

A permit holder unhappy with an inspection, condemnation, variance denial or civil penalty can demand a hearing before an Independent Hearing Officer within fifteen business days under Sections 9-6-17 and 9-6-18, subject to a nonrefundable $50 hearing fee, and can seek judicial review in District Court within thirty days under Section 9-6-19.