{"data":{"id":"us-va/12vac5-421-600","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"12VAC5-421-600","heading":"Refilling returnables","body":"A. Except as specified in subsections B through E of this section, empty containers returned to a food establishment for cleaning and refilling with food shall be cleaned and refilled in a regulated food processing plant.P\n\nB. A take-home food container returned to a food establishment may be refilled at a food establishment with food if the food container is:\n\n1. Designed and constructed for reuse and in accordance with the requirements specified in 12VAC5-421-960 through 12VAC5-421-1435;P\n\n2. One that was initially provided by the food establishment to the consumer, either empty or filled with food by the establishment, for the purpose of being returned for reuse;\n\n3. Returned to the food establishment by the consumer after use;\n\n4. Subject to the following steps before being refilled with food:\n\na. Cleaned as specified in 12VAC5-421-1770 through 12VAC5-421-1860;\n\nb. Sanitized as specified in 12VAC5-421-1885, 12VAC5-421-1890, and 12VAC5-421-1900;P and\n\nc. Visually inspected by a food employee to verify that the container, as returned, meets the requirements specified in 12VAC5-421-960 through 12VAC5-421-1435.P\n\nC. A take-home food container returned to a food establishment may be refilled at a food establishment with beverage if:\n\n1. The beverage is not a time/temperature control for safety food;\n\n2. The design of the container, the rinsing equipment, and the nature of the beverage, when considered together, allow effective cleaning at home or in the food establishment;\n\n3. Facilities before rinsing or refilling returned containers with fresh, hot water that is under pressure and not recirculated are provided as part of the dispensing system;\n\n4. The consumer-owned container returned to the food establishment for refilling is refilled for sale or service only to the same consumer; and\n\n5. The container is refilled by:\n\na. An employee of the food establishment; or\n\nb. The owner of the container if the beverage system includes a contamination-free transfer process as specified in subdivisions 1, 2, and 4 of 12VAC5-421-1230.\n\nD. Consumer-owned, personal take-out beverage containers, such as thermally insulated bottles, nonspill coffee cups, and promotional beverage glasses, may be refilled by employees or the consumer if refilling is a contamination-free process as specified under subdivisions 1, 2, and 4 of 12VAC5-421-1230.\n\nE. Consumer-owned containers that are not food-specific may be filled at a water vending machine or system.","path":["Title 12. Health","Agency 5. Department of Health","Chapter 421. Food Regulations","Part III. Food","Article 3. Protection from Contamination after Receiving"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title12/agency5/chapter421/section600/","current_through":"2026 Regular Session (effective July 1, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:50:14Z","sha256":"dd81a660018eb914fc33bc687d9defae930d1fb1f4c128837658fa488e4626b0","source_id":"us-va-vac","stale":false,"prev":"us-va/12vac5-421-590","next":"us-va/12vac5-421-610"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}