Reading, PA Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

No person shall operate a FOOD ESTABLISHMENT in the City of Reading without a valid Food EMPLOYEE certification from the Department of Agriculture. New FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS will have 90 days to comply with said requirement; existing FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS which are not in compliance due to lack of current certification, employee turnover or other loss of certified person shall have 90 days from the effective date of this section or the date of loss of certified person to comply.

(2)   Several types of FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS are exempt from complying with the EMPLOYEE certification requirement under this section. Exempt FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS include:

(a)   FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS where only commercially prepackaged food is handled and sold;

(b)   FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS that do not handle potentially hazardous foods;

(c)   Food manufacturing facilities engaged in the manufacture of prepackaged non-potentially hazardous food;

(d)   An organization classified as tax-exempt under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

(e)   FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS managed on a not-for-profit basis by a volunteer fire company or an ambulance, religious, charitable, fraternal, veterans, civic, agriculture fair or agricultural association or any separately chartered auxiliary of any of the above;

(f)   FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS managed on a not-for-profit basis by