Posts Categorized: News

3 tastings events per month to 15 events per month

On May 8, 2019, Governor Janet Mills signed into law as PL 2019, chapter 79, An Act to Update
Alcohol Taste-Testing Requirements. The Legislature passed this bill out with an emergency
preamble which means these changes are in effect NOW.

The top line news here – we go from 3 tastings events per month to 15 events per month. An event
can include the taste-testing of beer, wine, spirits, a combination of two or more or all of these categories. Whatever the combination, this is considered one event for the purposes of taste-
testing. All very good and exciting news!!

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Discontinuance of EBT Photos

As of April 26, 2019, the Office for Family Independence is no longer offering the option to add a photo to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Cards.  All EBT cards will continue to be valid and should continue to be accepted, whether they have a photo or not.  We will not be replacing cards that currently have photos, unless requested by the card holder.  We thank you for your partnership and continued assistance toward reaching our common goals.

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Maine First in the Nation to Ban Polystyrene Food Containers

April 30th, 2019 – Augusta, ME – Governor Mills Signs Nation’s First Polystyrene Food Containers Ban. Beginning January 1, 2021, a ‘covered establishment’ including a food establishments, an eating establishment, (excluding hospitals and meals on wheels programs of DHHS), agricultural fairs, farmers’ markets, food pantries/churches, boarding/retirement/and independent living homes, may not process, prepare or sell or provide food or beverages in or on disposable food service containers that are composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam.

Click to read the Chaptered Law.

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SNAP Government Shutdown Update

Maine Department of Health and Human Services: February SNAP Benefits to be Paid January 17.
Message from Governor Mills.

SNAP Early Issuance Messaging for Retailers: Customers who use SNAP EBT should keep in mind that February food dollars will be added in the middle of January this year. This means that you may have two months’ worth of food dollars on your account this month. No food dollars will be added in February. The early food dollars are meant to help with next month’s food. We encourage our SNAP-participating customers to plan their purchases carefully so that they have money available to meet their food needs.

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Grocers and food producers: Increase in minimum wage creates uncertainty for grocers

Holiday sales are just one bellwether for Maine’s grocery stores and supermarkets going into 2019, according to Christine Cummings. “I’m hopeful that momentum from a strong holiday season will continue into 2019,” said the executive director of the Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association, a trade group representing nearly 200 of the state’s grocers, supermarkets, food and beverage producers and related vendors.

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