NYS Laws & Regulations Related to Food, Farm, & Beverage Industries
New York State’s laws and regulations for business operations and employment situations are still changing to protect people during this transitional phase of the pandemic. This section contains vital information on regulatory requirements. The key requirement for all business operations is to maintain appropriate hygiene standards and implement social distancing to protect workplace health and safety.
All individuals 5 years of age and older that reside in the US are eligible to be vaccinated.
Vaccines are widely available at pharmacies, local health departments, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and other locations across the state. Visit Vaccines.gov to find appointments near you or contact your local pharmacy or provider. To schedule an appointment directly at a New York State-run site, go to New York State's vaccine scheduler and follow the instructions. Walk-in appointments are also accepted at New York State mass vaccination sites for all eligible adults. While the vaccination process is underway, New Yorkers should continue to wear a mask, social distance, avoid large gatherings and follow all other health guidelines.
Visit our Vaccine Information page for more.
Information on NYS Regulatory Requirements
- Visit this page from the New York State, Department of Health to find "Interim Updated Isolation & Quarantine Guidance." Posted on January 13, 2022.
- Visit this page from the New York State, Department of Labor to find information about the NYS HERO ACT that was signed into law to protect NYS workers from future airborne diseases that represent serious risk of harm to the public health. Posted on July 13, 2021.
- Visit this page from the New York State Government to find information on how to implement CDC Guidelines (“Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People”) in New York State. Posted on May 19, 2021.
- Visit this page from the New York State, Department of Health to find a holiday advisory for retailers during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Posted on December 16, 2020.
- Visit this page from Cornell Cooperative Extension-Harvest New York to find a video recording in Spanish, "Frequently Asked Questions – The Agricultural Seasonal Worker COVID-19 Testing Initiative." Posted on August 31, 2020.
- ESDC has set up an FAQ page for individuals and businesses with business-related COVID-19 issues and questions. This website also contains COVID-19 resources. Posted on March 20, 2020.
COVID-19 Response
Need information? The following Cornell CALS and CCE pages are updated regularly:
- General Questions & Links
- Food Production, Processing & Safety Questions
- Employment & Agricultural Workforce Questions
- Cornell Small Farms Resiliency Resources
- Financial & Mental Health Resources for Farmers
COVID-19 Resources & Guidance Archive
Some of the resources from this page have been archived in an effort to highlight relevant information. Please note that information in this document may be outdated and links may no longer function.
If you have specific questions around ingredients, cleaning/sanitation chemicals and procedures, personnel practices, or other food safety, supply, and distribution changes, reach out to our experts:
- Dairy: Rob Ralyea (rdr10@cornell.edu) and Kimberly Bukowski (krb14@cornell.edu)
- Fresh Produce: Dr. Elizabeth Bihn (eab38@cornell.edu)
- Processed Fruits and Vegetables: Dr. Martin Wiedmann (mw16@cornell.edu) and Dr. Randy Worobo (rww8@cornell.edu)
- Fermented Beverages: Dr. Anna Katharine Mansfield (akm87@cornell.edu) and Chris Gerling (cjg9@cornell.edu)
- All Other Foods: Dr. Olga Padilla-Zakour (oip1@cornell.edu) and Dr. Bruno Xavier (bmx2@cornell.edu)
Our team can also provide process authority services in case you need to change processes and/or formulations. For more information visit the Cornell Food Venture Center and for dairy-related process authority services contact Rob Ralyea (rdr10@cornell.edu).