OAR 603-022-0900: Purpose

The Oregon Department of Agriculture Food Safety Program licenses and inspects all facets of Oregon’s food distribution system, except restaurants, to ensure food is safe for consumption. Education and technical assistance are vital to the prevention, correction, and abatement of food safety violations, and are preferred over regulatory action. However, regulatory action may be necessary to deter violations of food safety laws and rules, to educate persons about the consequences of such violations, and to compel compliance with food safety laws for the protection of consumers. The Department intends to initiate civil penalty actions when educational measures, technical assistance, warning letters, compliance agreements or other remedial measures fail to achieve compliance.