(1) An owner or operator of a retail food establishment shall submit plans and specifications to the department or a county or district board of health in the jurisdiction in which a retail food establishment is to be constructed or extensively remodeled before such construction or extensive remodeling is begun or any existing structure is converted for use as a retail food establishment. Such plans and specifications shall be submitted for review and approval, in such form as the department requires or approves, to ensure that the retail food establishment layout, equipment, and food handling procedures are conducive to providing a safe food product. Each plan and specification submission shall be accompanied by the fees set forth in section 25-4-1607. The department and a county or district board of health shall treat the plans and specifications as confidential trade secret information. The plans and specifications shall indicate the proposed layout, arrangement, mechanical plants, construction materials of work areas, and the location, type, and model of proposed fixed equipment and facilities.

(2) The construction, extensive remodeling, or conversion of any retail food establishment shall be in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted to and approved by the department or a county or district board of health. The department or a county or district board of health shall conduct preopening inspections of retail food establishments to assure compliance with the approved plans, as circumstances require.

(3) An owner or operator of a retail food establishment shall submit an HACCP plan to the department or a county or district board of health for review and approval before beginning a modified atmosphere packaging process or other food preparation method that does not meet rules promulgated by the department. HACCP plans shall be submitted in such form as the department requires or approves. The submission shall ensure that food handling risks are reduced to prevent food-borne illness and outbreaks. The department and any county or district board of health shall treat HACCP plans as confidential trade secret information.

(4) The department or a county or district board of health shall respond to any plans and specifications submitted pursuant to subsection (1) of this section and to any HACCP plan submitted pursuant to subsection (3) of this section within fourteen working days after receipt. If a submitted HACCP plan or other plan or specification is deemed inadequate, the department or a county or district board of health shall respond in writing to the submitter of the plans or specifications with a statement describing how such deficiencies may be corrected.