Santa Fe – The deadline for implementation of Food Handler Card and Certified Manager requirements for New Mexico's food establishments will be extended until further notice, while the state's Environment Department continues to work with the regulated community, according to officials at NMED's Environmental Health Bureau. Through NMED's Environmental Health Bureau, New Mexico's food program regulates all food establishments in the state outside of the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, which operate their own food safety programs.

NMED will continue dialogue with food establishments and industry to address questions regarding the Food Handler Card and Certified Manager requirements and to draft modifications to the regulatory provisions as needed. Any necessary regulatory changes will need to be approved and adopted by the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) through a public proceeding. Therefore, the effective date for implementing the food safety enhancements has been extended until further notice.

"We want to assist permitted food establishments across the state with compliance. Our dialogue will ensure that they are able to meet the recently adopted food rules that are designed to improve food safety and reduce the incidence of foodborne illness," said New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Butch Tongate.

For further information or if you have questions or comments, please contact the Food Program Manager Johnathan Gerhardt at food.program@state.nm.us or (505) 222-9515.

Further information will also be provided at the Food Program website: https://www.env.nm.gov/fod/Food_Program/Regulation_Update.htm