Home kitchens on Guam could legally operate as commercial businesses without having to meet sanitation laws if a bill introduced by Speaker Tina Muña Barnes makes its way through the Legislature and is signed into law by the governor.

According to the language of the bill introduced earlier this month, “a cottage industry will not only serve as a new economy for our island but act as a way for families to preserve recipes of cultural food items while receiving an income.”

The Legislature finds that many families sell their homemade food products “under the table” to avoid having their home kitchen scrutinized by the Department of Public Health and Social Services, the bill states.

Allowing families to legally operate would grow small businesses and stimulate entrepreneurial activity, according to the proposed legislation.

Home kitchens would need to be licensed as a “home industry” in order to operate commercially. There is an annual $25 fee for each location. A license for food preparation would require a health certificate for persons handling the food and a health certificate for the suitability of the home kitchen.

Under the measure, a person cannot qualify for a home industry license if he or she employs someone who isn't a family member or if the business is not conducted in the person's actual home. Qualified applicants would be able to engage in the manufacturing of goods without obtaining any other business licenses.

The bill limits the sale of goods from home kitchens to items that are not potentially hazardous. The product would be required to be labeled with the name, phone number and address of the home industry; the ingredients of the product; an allergen warning, if applicable; and a statement declaring that the product is not prepared in a facility regularly inspected by the Division of Environmental Health at the Department of Public Health and Social Services.

Online sales would not be permitted, and annual gross sales of the foods would not be able to exceed $20,000.

Establishments used for the killing of livestock for private consumption or for the sale of fresh and unprocessed fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs and live poultry would be exempt under the bill.

The bill states that the concept of selling products from home kitchens has “always existed on Guam, with many families selling cultural food products like guyuria and rosketti to other family members and friends.”

"By introducing this bill, it would allow our local families to sell food that they make at home, using recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation and share those with our visitors. Food is one small element of our local culture and since we have the best chow on Earth, I think it would be a great idea to share that. If somebody can make some money, do what they love, while promoting Guam and a new industry all at the same time – why not?” Barnes said.