Wow, this a quite a change from the opinions we were hearing just a year ago from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, but we’re glad to hear it!
From the DENR:
RALEIGH – The state’s rule on the presence of animals at food service establishments, as enforced by the Division of Environmental Health and its agents on the local level, has been revised to allow food service establishment owners to permit cats and dogs in outdoor dining areas as long as conditions to protect public health are met.
“I am pleased that this rule has been clarified to promote consistency across the state with regard to the presence of dogs and cats in outdoor dining areas,” said Larry Michael, head of the Food Protection Branch in the Division of Environmental Health. “This amendment allows food service operators to decide whether or not to allow dogs and cats in outdoor dining areas – and if they do, there are public health provisions in place to help safeguard the food.”
The rule was adopted by the Commission for Public Health and approved by the Rules Review Commission on Aug. 19. It becomes effective Sept. 1.
Cats and dogs are allowed outdoors as long as they are physically restrained, do not pass through any indoor areas of a food service establishment, and do not come into contact with food, food service items or food preparers. An establishment’s owner can decide whether or not to allow cats and dogs at their establishment’s outdoor areas.
All other live animals – with a few exceptions, such as patrol dogs and service animals – are not allowed on a food service establishment’s premises.
Previously, the rule indicated that if animals, with the exception of patrol dogs and service animals, were present in indoor or outdoor dining areas during a food service establishment’s inspection, the establishment could receive up to a two-point deduction from its inspection rating.
Stakeholders, including health department staff, food service representatives and concerned citizens, provided input for revising this rule.
