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Cottage food laws · AR
Selling homemade food in Arkansas
Arkansas's Food Freedom Act (Act 1040 of 2021) lets home producers sell non-perishable, non-TCS foods directly to consumers with no registration, permit, or sales cap. An optional privacy ID number from the Department of Agriculture can replace your home address on labels. Sales must go direct to an informed end consumer, in person, at markets, or online, and cannot go through a reseller.
Program
Arkansas Food Freedom Act
Registration
No registration, permit, or fee required; producers may optionally obtain a privacy ID number from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture to use on labels instead of a home address; no kitchen inspection
Annual sales cap
No statewide sales cap
Online sales
Allowed (see notes)
You can sell
- Baked goods (breads, cakes, cookies, pastries, tortillas)
- Candy & confections
- Jams, jellies & fruit butters
- Honey
- Dry goods (cereal, dried fruit, herbs, spices, pasta)
- Acidified foods with verified pH, such as relishes and hot sauces
- Popcorn, granola & crackers
You can't sell
- TCS (time/temperature control for safety) foods, including meat, poultry & dairy
- Perishable baked goods (e.g. cream cheese frosting or fillings)
- Low-acid canned foods
- Fresh-cut fruits & vegetables
Where you can sell
- Direct in-person sales from home, farmers markets & roadside stands
- Online orders & mail order
- Retail stores & wholesale, sold direct to the informed end consumer
Selling online
Online sales are allowed direct to the informed end consumer; all required label information must be displayed on the product listing or website, and sales must stay within Arkansas rather than through a reseller
What your labels must include
- Business name & address (or Dept. of Agriculture privacy ID number)
- Phone number
- Product name & date produced
- Full ingredient list
- Allergen declaration
- Required disclosure statement