The Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Division functions as a consumer protection and consumer service organization with the mission of enforcing laws, rules, and regulations to protect the public food supply. By regulating certain industries, the Division, through its trained regulatory officer, laboratory staff, and product registration / compliance personnel help insure that consumers receive quality agricultural products.
The operations under the Regulatory & Environmental Affairs Division (READ) touch the lives of every West Virginian. We operate a variety of programs that protect consumers from human and animal food safety-related issues, inaccurate product labelling, proper pesticide applications, and protect the environmental systems in WV. We help to guarantee residential and industrial consumers receive quality agricultural products. The division inspects stores to ensure that certain products are not out of date and that proper storage temperatures are being maintained. READ analyzes a variety of different products to ensure they match label claims and license soft-serve ice cream sellers to make sure their machines are properly cleaned and free of dangerous microorganisms. The associated laboratories support the work of the division as well as conduct vital federally funded scientific research. The Pesticide Regulatory Unit licenses products and commercial applicators. The Environmental Programs Unit conducts extensive water sampling and provides farmers with information and technical assistance.
What's Going On
Grade A Dairy Program
The WVDA began regulating all Grade A milk products as of January 1, 2020. Authority to regulate Grade A milk was transferred from the WV DHHR to the WVDA during the 2019 Legislative Session. The agencies have been working together to transfer all resources and information over the last six months. Previously, the WVDA only regulated Grade B milk products as well as managed the state’s herd sharing program. For more information about the program, please see our website below, or contact Rachel Shockey at 304-558-2226 or rshockey@wvda.us
WV Hemp Products Program
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture began regulating all hemp products and hemp product vendors in West Virginia on July 1, 2020. The WVDA was given authority under WV 61CSR30. The rule establishes guidelines for safer hemp products and provides consumer protection standards for all products sold in WV. The rule applies to all hemp products, regardless of the origin of manufacture.
For more information about the program, please see the link below, or contact the WVDA at wvhempproducts@wvda.us or 304-558-2226.
Farmers Market Program
In June 2018, the WVDA began registering both Farmers Markets and Farmers Market Cottage Food Vendors in WV as a result of regulation established in Senate Bill 375. The new rules remove local health departments from the farmers market vendor permitting process, transferring the authority to the WVDA. For more information about the program, please see the link below, or contact the WVDA at farmersmarkets@wvda.us or 304-558-2226.
FSMA Produce Safety Program
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture, under an agreement with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is building a Produce Safety Program to promote the understanding of the new FDA Produce Safety Rule. The FDA established new minimum standards for safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce grown for human consumption as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). To learn more about the program, or if you qualify, please see the link below or contact produce@wvda.us or 304-558-2226.