Retailers

Unattended Food Sales Establishments are food sales operations that provide automatic vending or merchandising of food products. These operations go by several names, including:

• Micro-markets,
• Self-service Food Markets, and 
• Self-service Retail Convenience Stores

These establishments operate in the realm of food sales, subjecting them to the requirements of GDA's Retail Food Sales regulations and the Georgia Food Act. 

However, their modes of operation offer key differences to traditional food sales operations. Chief among these differences are that these vending units are typically housed within a controlled access facility. Therefore their food sales operations are not publicly accessible.

Based on their locations in controlled access facilities, nature of the products typically vended, and the lockout measures utilized by these machines for inventory control; at this time GDA has decided not to license and inspect these types of facilities. 

GDA reserves the right to enter these facilities, ascertain compliance with the provisions of our applicable laws and regulations, and to make inspection of said facilities as necessary to protect consumers' health and wellbeing.

Variances are intended for the allowance of specialized processes that will enhance operations with science based controls and monitoring.  Certain types of food or specialized food processing methods available to retail establishments will require additional documentation to be filed with the Department before they can be conducted at a licensed establishment.

Guidance for Requesting a Variance

Variance Application Form

If you need additional guidance completing or submitting an application, or for technical questions, please submit them via email to VarianceQuestions@agr.georgia.gov.