November ’26 at-a-glance … regulations

November 10, 2026

What’s new in the FDA’s 2026 Food Code

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the 2026 Food Code, adding several provisions that could affect foodservice operations, including an alternative cooling process, updated glove-use rules, and new food safety management system requirements. The biennial update also addresses allergen cross-contact, mobile food establishments, sanitizer temperatures, reusable containers, dehydration and freeze-drying. State and local jurisdictions use the Food Code as a model for their own food safety regulations.

Canada takes aim at regulatory red tape

Canada introduced the Cutting Red Tape for All Canadians Act (Bill S-7) to streamline federal regulations, reduce compliance costs and improve business competitiveness. The legislation proposes changes to 31 laws, including measures to eliminate duplicate reporting and simplify administrative processes. Canada also announced a new regulatory directive requiring agencies to offset every $1 in new regulatory burden with $2 in reductions, beginning Dec. 31. Bill S-7 remains under consideration in the Senate.

Reporting reminders

Upcoming

  • Although the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s PFAS reporting deadline was Sept. 15, manufacturers with an approved reporting extension have until Nov. 14 to request a waiver. If the waiver is not granted, the manufacturer must report by Dec. 14. The report must be submitted through the state’s PRISM system. The state granted all 867 complete extension requests it received.
  • EPA has delayed reporting under the TSCA Section 8(a)(7) PFAS reporting rule. The rule generally requires companies that manufactured or imported PFAS or PFAS-containing articles between 2011 and 2022 to report information on uses, production volumes, disposal, exposures and environmental and health effects. The reporting period will now begin Jan. 31, 2027, or 60 days after the effective date of EPA’s forthcoming revisions to the rule, whichever comes first. EPA expects to finalize those revisions later this year.
  • Ice machines and refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment subject to the EPA’s AIM Act Technology Transitions Program face new HFC restrictions and labeling requirements beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The agency provides a detailed fact sheet with labeling examples.
  • Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disclosures from U.S. companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenue that do business in the California are required beginning in 2027, according to SB 253. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has not established the specific reporting deadline. Third-party assurance of the disclosures is not required until 2030.

Past due

  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s PFAS reporting deadline was Sept. 15, unless the manufacturer received a reporting extension.
  • Certain chillers and industrial process refrigeration equipment became subject to EPA AIM Act HFC restrictions and labeling requirements Jan. 1. The EPA provides a detailed fact sheet with labeling examples.
  • California SB 253 required U.S. companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenue that do business in California to submit their first Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions reports by Nov. 10. Legal challenges are ongoing, but the reporting deadline has not changed.

A reminder on state energy-efficiency reporting requirement

  • The following states, plus Washington, D.C., have energy-efficiency standards for a variety of commercial foodservice equipment: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
  • Multiple states – Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island – and Washington D.C., require manufacturers of dishwashers, fryers, hot food holding cabinets, ovens, steam cookers and other products to register with the State Appliance Standards Database (SASD). Distributors, retailers and installers must verify that required products are listed with SASD before sale, lease, rental or installation. In New York, manufacturers must ensure their products meet the performance, testing, and certification requirements.
  • The California Energy Commission requires manufacturers to certify the performance of refrigeration products sold in California via its Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDbS). Manufacturers must submit data directly to CEC’s database from a CEC-recognized testing lab or submit a form for each product category that authorizes the testing lab as their representative for submitting appliance data.

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