WAC 16-165-160   Food establishments -- Basis for enforcement action.  (1) The department may issue a notice of correction for:

     (a) Food establishments that score less than ninety points on an inspection; or

     (b) Critical violations found during an inspection of a food establishment.

     (2) The department may review and consider initiating enforcement action, such as license suspension, civil penalties, and/or other penalties provided in chapters 16.49, 69.04, 69.07, or 69.10 RCW when:

     (a) Food establishments score less than ninety points on two separate inspections within a consecutive three-year period; or

     (b) Food establishments fail to correct critical violations during an inspection.

     (3) Nothing herein shall prevent the department from:

     (a) Choosing not to pursue a case administratively.

     (b) Issuing a notice of correction in lieu of pursuing administrative action.

     (c) Negotiating settlement(s) of cases on such terms and for such reasons as it deems appropriate.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 16.49.680, 19.32.030, 69.04.730, 69.07.020 and 69.10.055. 99-13-001, § 16-165-160, filed 6/3/99, effective 7/4/99.]