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Selling homemade food in New Hampshire means your label has to follow the New Hampshire Homestead Food Operation. Exempt (unlicensed cottage-food) tier: RSA 143-A:12, II and N.H. Admin. Code He-P 2310.01. Non-exempt (licensed, "Class H Homestead License") tier: RSA 143-A:12, III / RSA 143-A:4 and He-P 2311 (labeling at He-P 2311.04). Rulemaking authority RSA 143-A:13; rules in the NH DHHS Food Protection He-P 2300 series. NOTE: the homestead law is RSA 143-A (chapter 143-A), not RSA 143:1-a. Here is exactly what that label must show in 2026 — the required fields, the allergen rule, and the verbatim disclaimer and its font size — sourced to the statute and dated.
Print this statement on the label, word for word:
UNLICENSED (exempt) tier — He-P 2310.01(d)(7): the statement 'This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection' must appear in at least the equivalent of 10-point font AND in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background. LICENSED (non-exempt) tier operators use a different statement identifying DHHS oversight — there is a statute/rule wording discrepancy: the rule He-P 2311.04(h) prescribes 'This product is made in a residential kitchen licensed by NH DHHS' (also 10-pt minimum, contrasting color), while the statute RSA 143-A:12, V(c)(2) states 'This product is made in a residential food production area licensed by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services' — confirm the current required form with NH DHHS Food Protection (603-271-4589 / DHHS.FoodProtection@dhhs.nh.gov). No permit/license number is placed on the label in either tier.
New Hampshire is a two-tier state, and the tier flips the disclaimer. If you sell only from your home, your own farm stand, a farmers' market, or a retail food store, you are the EXEMPT (unlicensed) homestead operation and your label must carry the near-warning line 'This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection.' — telling the buyer no inspector stands behind the food. The moment you want to sell to restaurants, over the Internet, by mail order, or to wholesalers/distributors (or make freeze-dried foods), you need the licensed 'Class H' Homestead License ($150), and your label flips to a statement pointing to DHHS oversight. Same kitchen, opposite messages — pick the sentence that matches your license status. Note the exempt tier is also limited to specific low-risk foods (baked goods, double-crusted fruit pies, candy/fudge, dry spice/herb packs, vinegars/mustards, jams and jellies) and never potentially hazardous (refrigerated) foods.
'This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection.' is ONLY for unlicensed (exempt) operators. If you hold a Homestead License, that line is false on your label — use the DHHS-oversight statement instead (the rule He-P 2311.04(h) wording is 'This product is made in a residential kitchen licensed by NH DHHS'; the statute uses a longer form — confirm the current one with DHHS).
The exemption statement must be at least the equivalent of 10-point font AND printed in a color that clearly contrasts with the background. Grey-on-grey or a tiny sub-10-point line is a violation — many sellers get the size right but miss the contrast requirement.
NH requires a product code that identifies the item with a batch number OR a date of manufacture so a bad batch can be traced and recalled. Leaving it off entirely is a common miss (e.g., 02142026-2 = second batch made Feb 14, 2026).
Each major food allergen must be named unless it is already part of the common/usual name in the ingredient list. If your list says 'flour' rather than 'wheat', add a separate allergen callout.
Timeline: Exempt (unlicensed) tier: no waiting period — label and sell as soon as your product qualifies (approved food types, sold through the exempt channels). Licensed tier: apply for the Class H Homestead License with NH DHHS Food Protection and allow a few weeks for review.
Cost: $0 — no permit required for the exempt (unlicensed) homestead tier. The non-exempt Class H Homestead License is a flat $150 state fee (NH DHHS Food Protection).
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Make my New Hampshire label →New Hampshire requires this exact statement on a cottage food label: “This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection.” It must be set at a minimum of 10-point type.
No. New Hampshire does not require a permit or registration number printed on the label.
At minimum: product name — the common name of the food; your business / producer name; the address of the cottage food operation; a complete ingredient list, in descending order by weight (sub-ingredients included); an allergen declaration — the 9 major FDA allergens, in the ingredient list or a “Contains:” line; net weight, in US customary and metric units; the state's required disclaimer at a minimum of 10-point type (see below); the date the food was made; a telephone number for the operation.
No. CottageCompliance gives general information based on each state's published rules, dated to when we last verified them. Always confirm with your state or local agency before selling.
Source: RSA 143-A:12 (Homestead Food License Required), gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/X/143-A/143-A-12.htm; RSA 143-A:13 (Rulemaking), gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/X/143-A/143-A-13.htm; N.H. Admin. Code He-P 2310.01 (exempt homestead labeling), law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-hampshire/N-H-Admin-Code-SS-He-P-2310.01; He-P 2311.04 (non-exempt labeling), law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-hampshire/N-H-Admin-Code-SS-He-P-2311.04; He-P 2300 adopted rule, dhhs.nh.gov/.../he-p2300adoptedrule.pdf; NH DHHS Homestead Food Operations, dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/environmental-health-and-you/food-protection/homestead-food-operations; UNH Extension fact sheet, extension.unh.edu/resource/selling-homemade-food-products-nh-basics-part-two-fact-sheet Verified 2026-08-10. General information, not legal advice — confirm with your state or local agency before selling.