a. Any nonprofit organization known as a food bank which receives and distributes prepared or perishable food in accordance with this act shall obtain a license from the Department of Health to distribute such food. The fee for licensure shall be equal to the lowest fee charged to food, drug, or cosmetic establishments regulated by the department pursuant to P.L.1971, c. 158 (C. 24:15-13 and 25:15-14).
b. The Department of Health shall establish procedures to license and regulate nonprofit organizations which receive and distribute food and are known as food banks. The purpose of the licensure and regulation is to ensure the quality of the distributed food.