Commissioners adopt food-sovereignty ordinance for unorganized territory with two-year review clause

The Penobscot County Commissioners voted unanimously April 15 to adopt a local food-sovereignty ordinance that applies to the county's unorganized territory (UT) only, and directed legal counsel to confirm language for a two-year sunset-review provision.

Commissioners said the ordinance reiterates a constitutional preference expressed by voters and is intended to protect direct producer-to-consumer sales and small-scale food production activities in the UT from some local regulatory interpretations. County legal counsel had reviewed a draft and recommended language to limit county exposure and clarify that state health and safety laws remain applicable where statutorily required.

Commissioner discussion referenced similar municipal ordinances (Chester and other towns) and stressed the county would not be changing state food safety statutes for meat, poultry or regulated dairy products; state health inspections and licensing requirements would still apply where the law requires. The commission added a motion to include a two-year review/sunset clause; the board approved the ordinance subject to legal counsel confirming that a sunset-review amendment is permissible and properly worded. If counsel finds the amendment is not acceptable, commissioners said they will revisit the item.

Ending: County staff will circulate the final ordinance language following counsel review. Commissioners asked county communications staff not to widely publicize the adoption until counsel confirms the sunset-review amendment, and they directed counsel to return a finalized draft within two weeks.