Starting a food business

What you need to do

Contact the local council

A food business is an enterprise or activity involving the sale of food.

In Victoria you cannot operate a food business unless the business is registered with the relevant local council.

This is a requirement of the Victorian Food Act 1984.

Contact your local council for information on food business registration requirements and charges.

The local council will charge a fee for registration of the food business and the registration has to be renewed every year.

The food business will need to have a Food Safety Program and a copy of the Food Safety Program needs to accompany every registration and re-registration. You will also have to nominate a Food Safety Supervisor with the skills and authority to ensure that all staff have sufficient skills and knowledge to provide safe food, including understanding and following the Food Safety Program.

Here is a brochure which provides more details on what you need to know to run a food business.

So, you want to run a food business? - A guide for Victorians (50kb, pdf)

Step by step guide to setting up your business premises

Business Victoria has produced a step by step guide to setting up a business premises. It includes:

• choosing your business location and retail leases
• how to set up and modify your premises
• solving premises disputes with landlords

For more information visit the Business Victoria website.

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