(a) Nature of rules.--The secretary shall be charged with the enforcement of this subchapter and shall promulgate rules, regulations and food standards necessary for its proper enforcement. The rules, regulations and food standards shall conform and shall be construed to conform with the purposes expressed in section 5736 (relating to construction of subchapter).

(b) Local inspection.--Nothing in this subchapter shall prohibit any county, city, borough, incorporated town or township which was licensing food establishments in accordance with the act of April 21, 1949 (P.L. 665, No. 155),¹ known as the First Class City Home Rule Act, or the act of August 24, 1951 (P.L. 1304, No. 315),² known as the Local Health Administration Law, on September 2, 1994, from continuing to license such food establishments in accordance with the First Class City Home Rule Act or the Local Health Administration Law. No county, city, borough, incorporated town or township shall ordain or enforce requirements of any kind or description with respect to food establishments related to sanitation, food safety, inspections, standards and labeling other than those promulgated by the secretary in accordance with this subchapter or adopted in accordance with subsection (f).

(c) Reciprocal inspection.--The secretary is authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions to ensure inhabitants of this Commonwealth that food sold in this Commonwealth complies with this subchapter and its regulations. The agreements may be for reciprocal inspection and labeling review. The secretary may approve or accept inspection and labeling requirements of other jurisdictions with respect to food.

(d) Uniform regulation.--In reaching reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions, the provisions of this subchapter and its regulations shall be considered as establishing uniform requirements and regulations for food establishments throughout this Commonwealth as defined in section 5722 (relating to definitions).

(e) Interagency agreements.--Nothing in this subchapter shall prohibit a Commonwealth agency which is regulating and inspecting retail food facilities in accordance with Subchapter A (relating to retail food facility safety) from continuing to regulate and inspect retail food facilities in accordance with Subchapter A.

(f) Adoption of Federal regulations.--All regulations and supplements thereto or revisions thereof adopted under the Federal acts which relate to food on, before or after the effective date of this subchapter are adopted as regulations in this Commonwealth and shall remain in effect unless subsequently modified or superseded by regulations promulgated by the secretary.

(g) Water standards.--If a food establishment uses or supplies water for human consumption, the water shall be in compliance with the primary and secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL), treatment techniques and Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels (MRDL) required by the act of May 1, 1984 (P.L. 206, No. 43),³ known as the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act, and its attendant regulations.

(h) Definitions.--As used in this section, the phrase “other jurisdictions” shall mean the United States of America or any state, territory or possession thereof or any other country.