Fees for Handler Certification

Food Alliance Certified handlers pay an inspection fee and licensing fees.

Inspection Fee

The inspection fee for handling operations is the actual cost of inspection (which may vary depending upon location, number of facilities, number of production lines, etc.).  A $500 deposit is due at time of application. The balance is invoiced upon issue of the certification decision.

Licensing Fees

Licensing fees are paid annually on a sliding scale based on sales of products for which certified content claims are asserted.  If an ingredient supplier pays certification fees to Food Alliance, the handler may subtract the cost of that ingredient and calculate the licensing fees on the net value.

Fees for the first year of certification are based upon actual sales, reported and invoiced at the end of each calendar quarter.  Each succeeding year’s fees are based upon the most recent year’s sales of certified product. 

If desired, a quarterly payment plan can also be established for the second and subsequent years of certification.

(Note: Vertically integrated producer/processors pay the inspection fee for the farm/ranch operation, the handler inspection fee, and licensing fees on gross sales of products that carry Food Alliance Certified content claims.)

Handler Categories

Category I  - Certified Handling Operation
Includes companies that process their own product or retain other handlers to perform manufacturing or other contract services. This category also includes operations engaged in the production of ingredients intended for further processing prior to retail packaging, as well as fruit or vegetable packing and/or packaging.

Category II - Certified Handling Operation
For operations, such as brokers or distributors, that take title to product but do not change its form. Incidental re-packing for quality control or assembling orders is allowed. (Incidental repacking shall not include reducing or dividing the net weight of any previously packaged products. Incidental repacking shall also not include alteration of previously existing label information.)

Category III - Restricted Handling Operation
For handlers retained on contract to process products intended to bear Food Alliance Certified content claims. Restricted Handling Operations must pass an audit addressing baseline requirements for handling Food Alliance Certified products. However, Restricted Handling Operations are not certified and may not make claims to being certified by Food Alliance.

Licensing Fee Schedule