TITLE 16

Health and Safety

Food and Drugs

CHAPTER 43. Soft Drinks and Nonalcoholic Beverages

§ 4301. License for manufacture of soft drinks for sale in bottles.

(a) No person shall manufacture for sale in bottles or jugs any soft drink or other nonalcoholic beverage (except apple cider) within this State without having first applied for and having received a license from the Department of Health and Social Services.

(b) The application shall contain the name of the applicant, the applicant’s address and the location of the applicant’s manufacturing plant or plants, the name of the beverage or beverages to be manufactured and such other pertinent information as shall be prescribed by the Department of Health and Social Services in pursuance of this chapter.

(c) The application shall be accompanied by a fee of $25, upon receipt of which application and fee the Department of Health and Social Services shall issue to the applicant a license for the manufacture of the beverages mentioned in this section.

(d) The license shall be for the fiscal year ending June 30, unless sooner revoked, as provided in this chapter, and shall be renewed annually thereafter.

Code 1915, §  780A;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  133 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  434 Del. Laws, c. 6334 Del. Laws, c. 69, §  135 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  1;  Code 1935, §  841;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4301;  70 Del. Laws, c. 149, §§  177, 17870 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 4302. Denial of license.

A license applied for pursuant to § 4301 of this title may be denied at the time of application if the establishment of the applicant is known to be in an unsanitary condition or if the water supply is known to be dangerously polluted.

Code 1915, §  780A;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  134 Del. Laws, c. 6335 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  1;  Code 1935, §  841;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4302; 

§ 4303. Soft drinks sold but not manufactured in this State; inspection, registration and license.

No soft drink or other nonalcoholic beverage (except apple cider) not manufactured in this State shall be sold or offered for sale in this State unless such drink or beverage is first inspected and registered with the Department of Health and Social Services. A license fee of $57.50, which may be renewed annually, shall be paid by the manufacturer or the manufacturer’s agent or dealer to the Department of Health and Social Services.

Code 1915, §  780A;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  133 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  434 Del. Laws, c. 6334 Del. Laws, c. 69, §  135 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  1;  Code 1935, §  841;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4303;  67 Del. Laws, c. 260, §  170 Del. Laws, c. 149, §§  179, 18070 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 4304. Disposition by Department of moneys collected.

All moneys collected by the Department of Health and Social Services under this chapter shall be paid into the State Treasury.

Code 1915, §  780F;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  133 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  434 Del. Laws, c. 69, §  1;  Code 1935, §  842;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4304;  70 Del. Laws, c. 149, §  181

§ 4305. Form of license.

All licenses granted shall be numbered and bear the name of the town or city and the street address where the establishment is located.

Code 1915, §  780D;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  1;  Code 1935, §  844;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4305; 

§ 4306. Display of license.

A licensee shall display the license in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises.

Code 1915, §  780D;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  1;  Code 1935, §  844;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4306;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 4307. Delivery trucks.

All delivery trucks and wagons maintained by persons holding licenses shall be kept clean and shall bear the license number and the name of the town or city where the licensed establishment is located.

Code 1915, §  780D;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  1;  Code 1935, §  844;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4307; 

§ 4308. Revocation of licenses.

(a) The Department of Health and Social Services may revoke any license issued under this chapter whenever it is determined by itself or the Pathologist and Bacteriologist, Chemist or other properly qualified official that this chapter has been violated.

(b) Any person whose license has been revoked shall discontinue the manufacture or sale within this State of soft drinks, syrups or other nonalcoholic beverages until this chapter has been complied with and a new license issued.

(c) The Department of Health and Social Services may revoke a license either temporarily until there is a compliance with such conditions as it may prescribe or permanently for the unexpired period of the license.

Code 1915, §  780E;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  133 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  434 Del. Laws, c. 69, §  1;  Code 1935, §  845;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4308;  70 Del. Laws, c. 149, §§  182, 183

§ 4309. Procedure for revocation.

Before revoking any license the Department of Health and Social Services shall give written notice to the licensee affected, stating that it contemplates the revocation of the same and giving its reason therefor. The notice shall appoint a time of hearing before the Department of Health and Social Services or its deputies, and shall be mailed by registered mail to the licensee. On the day of hearing the licensee may present such evidence to the Department of Health and Social Services as the licensee deems fit, and after hearing all the testimony, the Department of Health and Social Services shall decide the question in such a manner as to it appears just and right.

Code 1915, §  780B;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  133 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  434 Del. Laws, c. 69, §  1;  Code 1935, §  846;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4309;  70 Del. Laws, c. 149, §§  184, 18570 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 4310. Appeal from Department’s decision.

Any licensee or applicant for a license may appeal within 10 days from an adverse decision of the Department of Health and Social Services to the Superior Court of the county where the licensee or applicant resides and issue shall be framed in that Court and a trial had. The decision of the Superior Court shall be final.

Code 1915, §  780G;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  133 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  434 Del. Laws, c. 69, §  1;  Code 1935, §  847;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4310;  70 Del. Laws, c. 149, §  186

§ 4311. Regulations governing licensed establishments.

Persons granted a license to manufacture soft drinks or other nonalcoholic beverages must comply with the following requirements:

(1) Every building, room, basement or cellar occupied or used for the preparation for sale, manufacture, packing, storage, sale or distribution of any drink products shall be properly lighted, drained, plumbed and ventilated and conducted with due regard for the purity and wholesomeness of the products therein produced, and with strict regard to the influence of such conditions upon the health of the operatives, employees, clerks or other persons therein employed. The term “drink products” as used in this section includes all waters, beverages, soft drinks and like products, whether simple, mixed or compound, and all substances or ingredients used in the preparation thereof.

(2) The floors, side walls, ceilings, furniture, receptacles, implements and machinery of every establishment where drink products are manufactured, packed, stored, sold or distributed shall at all times be kept in a clean, healthful and sanitary condition.

(3) Drink products in the process of manufacture, preparation, packing, storing, sale or distribution must be securely protected from flies, dust, dirt, and, as far as may be necessary, from all other foreign or injurious contamination.

(4) All refuse, dirt and waste products subject to decomposition and fermentation incident to the manufacture, preparation, packing, storing, selling and distribution of drink products must be removed from the premises daily.

(5) All bottling establishments shall be equipped with adequate and sufficient machinery for the automatic soaking, cleaning and rinsing of bottles. All bottles prior to refilling shall be cleansed and sterilized by soaking in a solution of not less than 31/2 percent caustic alkali for a period of not less than 3 minutes and at a temperature not lower than 120° Fahrenheit, to be followed by spraying and rinsing with water from the same source as used in filling, where practicable, or in any case by water of an accepted degree of purity and safety. Bottles too large for the machine shall be washed in the hot alkali solution and rinsed until free from any trace of alkali before refilling. All capping machines shall be provided with automatic crown feed. The reuse of caps, crowns or corks is prohibited. Such caps, crowns and corks shall be at all times so kept or stored as to be shielded from infection and contamination. All containers for the preparation or storage of syrups, fruit juices, extracts and flavors used in the manufacture of beverages shall be of glass, glazed-lined metal or stoneware. This shall not apply to those preparations not removed from the manufacturer’s shipping package. In no case shall receptacles of galvanized iron be used for liquids to be bottled. Containers shall be covered at all times. The construction of pumps and piping used for conveying syrups, fruit juices and similar liquids shall be such as to permit of ready disconnection and cleaning. Linings of lead or zinc are prohibited. Proper receptacles shall be provided for solid wastes. Floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows, window ledges, etc., shall be kept clean and free from dust. All fixtures, machinery, utensils and piping shall be maintained in clean condition, using for this purpose hot water, live steam and such chemical agents as may be approved by the Department of Health and Social Services.

(6) The clothing of operatives, employees, clerks or other persons must be clean.

(7) The side walls and ceilings in that part of bottling establishments in which the beverages or syrups are manufactured shall be kept oil painted or well limewashed, and all interior woodwork in every bottling establishment shall be kept washed and cleansed with soap and water, and every building, room, basement or cellar occupied for use in the preparation, manufacture, packing, storage, sale or distribution of drink products shall have an impermeable floor made of cement or tile, laid in cement, brick or other suitable nonabsorbent material which can be flushed and washed clean with water.

(8) The floors, windows and other openings of syrup rooms or any part of a bottling establishment used in the manufacture or mixing of syrups and extracts, etc., shall be fitted with self-closing screen doors and wire window screens made with wire not less than 14 meshes to the inch.

(9) No employer shall knowingly permit, require or suffer any person to work in a bottling establishment who is afflicted with any contagious or infectious disease, or with any skin disease.

(10) Every bottling establishment shall be provided with or have available for use a convenient washroom and toilet of sanitary construction, but such toilet shall be entirely separate and apart from any room used for the manufacture or storage of drink products.

Code 1915, §  780C;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  133 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  434 Del. Laws, c. 69, §  135 Del. Laws, c. 52, §§  2, 3;  Code 1935, §  843;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4311;  70 Del. Laws, c. 149, §  187

§ 4312. Artificial sweeteners.

The Department of Health and Social Services shall have authority to approve artificial sweeteners for use in carbonated beverages. Such approval shall be in writing and the Department of Health and Social Services will publish a list of such approved artificial sweeteners. Bottles or other containers filled with carbonated beverage to which artificial sweetener approved by the Department of Health and Social Services has been added shall be labeled “DIETETIC.” The label of each container shall also have printed thereon the name of the artificial sweetener used and the amount of the same which has been added.

Code 1915, §  780H;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  1;  Code 1935, §  848;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4312;  49 Del. Laws, c. 12250 Del. Laws, c. 271, §  170 Del. Laws, c. 149, §§  188, 189

§ 4313. Ingredients of beverage.

(a) All soft drinks or other nonalcoholic beverages, except nonalcoholic fruit juices, shall consist of a beverage made from pure cane or beet sugar syrup or such other sweetening liquids or substances as shall be permitted by the regulations of the Department of Health and Social Services, containing pure flavoring material with or without added fruit acid, and with or without added color.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the use of any other harmless ingredient in the manufacture of soft drinks or other nonalcoholic beverages.

(c) This section shall not apply to nonalcoholic beverages, made in imitation of beer, bitter drinks and other similar drinks.

(d) When artificial coal tar colors are used nothing but the certified colors as approved by the federal government are permissible.

Code 1915, §  780I;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  133 Del. Laws, c. 57, §  434 Del. Laws, c. 69, §  1;  Code 1935, §  849;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4313;  70 Del. Laws, c. 149, §  190

§ 4314. Information on caps or labels.

If any drink product as defined in § 4311(1) of this title contains artificial color or flavor, such fact shall be put on the cap or label. Such cap or label shall also bear the name and address of the bottler or manufacturer of such product, except that where the name of the bottler or manufacturer of such product has been blown in the bottle or other container, the bottler or manufacturer shall be exempt from putting the name and address of the bottler or manufacturer of such product on the cap itself.

Code 1915, §  780L;  35 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  4;  Code 1935, §  851;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4314;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 4315. Using containers bearing another’s label or name.

No person shall fill or refill any glass, jar, bottle or any other container with soda water, mineral water or any other drink or fluid, with intent to sell or vend such water, drink or fluid, which bears the label of any other person or which has blown in such glass, bottle or other container the name of any person without the consent of such person.

Code 1915, §  780C;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  135 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  3;  Code 1935, §  843;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4315; 

§ 4316. Exemption of soda fountains.

This chapter shall not apply to persons operating a soda fountain, if the soft drinks there manufactured are used on the premises.

Code 1915, §  780K;  33 Del. Laws, c. 55, §  1;  Code 1935, §  850;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4316; 

§ 4317. Penalties.

Whoever violates this chapter shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100.

Code 1915, §  780M;  37 Del. Laws, c. 61, §  2;  Code 1935, §  852;  16 Del. C. 1953, §  4317;