Email
Single approval for temporary & mobile food premises to operate in Victoria
Page contents: Single approval for temporary & mobile food premises to operate in Victoria l For advice & assistance l Statement of trade forms | Online will save time l What are temporary or mobile food premises?
Single approval for temporary & mobile food premises to operate in Victoria
From 1 July 2011, a state-wide registration and notification scheme for temporary and mobile food premises applies under the Food Act 1984. All temporary and mobile food businesses are affected by these changes.
Depending on your food handling activities, if you operate a food van, food stall, food vending machines or a drinking water carting business you will only need to register with, or notify, the one council.
Under this new system, this will be with your "principal council". This is council district in Victoria:
- in which your business prepares or stores food that is to be sold at a van, stall, or vending machine; or
- if food is not usually prepared or stored beforehand by your business - the district in which you usually store the equipment for a stall, or garage your food van or water transport vehicle; or
- if none of the above apply - the district in which your usual business address is located; or
- if the above are not in Victoria - the district in which the food van, water transport vehicle, stall or vending machines will first operate in Victoria
The state-wide registration and notification scheme will make it easier for food businesses and community groups that currently require multiple registrations to operate in different council districts.
For advice & assistance
A "start up" process is required to enable you to get the benefits of the new state-wide system and be registered with the correct council.
Contact an environmental health officer at your principal council for further advice or assistance. Your council can advise you about what you need to do and the forms you need to complete.
More information for specific food premises types
These flyers provide more information about the new scheme for specific food premises types:
Food vans and stalls
Food vans and stalls - Single approval to operate in Victoria, class 2, 3 and 4, November 2011
Private drinking water carters
Private drinking water carters – Approval to operate in Victoria, August 2011
Food vending machines
Food vending machines - State-wide registration or notification, July 2011
Information about food vending machines - class 2, December 2011
Information about food vending machines - class 3, December 2011
Statements of trade
When registered – or notified – under the state-wide system, you must let all relevant councils know where and when you will be trading in their districts by lodging a statement of trade.
Access the Food Act statement of trade forms below, or ask your council for copies.
Statement of trade for temporary food premises – Food Act 1984 (Vic), July 2011 (139kb, word)
Statement of trade for mobile food premises – Food Act 1984 (Vic), July 2011 (124kb, word)
Statement of trade for food vending machines– Food Act 1984 (Vic), July 2011 (135kb, word)
IMPORTANT: If you operate a food van or stall, you can only participate in the state-wide system when you have the correct registration in place under the Food Act. Check with your council about your registration status, before considering whether to use these statement of trade forms. The flyer listed above for food vans and stalls explains what you need to do.
Additional information for water transport vehicles and food vending machines
If you operate water transport vehicles or food vending machines, special changeover arrangements also apply about when you are to commence lodging statements of trade. The first step for these businesses is to be registered with, or notify, the principal council.
Water transport vehicles
The flyer listed above for water transport vehicles and vending machines explains what the proprietors of these businesses should do.
For council contact details or go to Find your local council or check the Yellow Pages.
Food vending machines
Food vending machines may fall into either class 2 or 3. Different regulatory requirements apply to each class.
Class 2 vending machines are those whose activities include handling unpackaged potentially hazardous foods (sometimes called "high-risk" foods) that require specific measures to keep food safe, e.g. fresh orange juice. Given the higher food safety risks involved, they must:
- register annually with council
- have a food safety program
- have a food safety supervisor, and
- lodge statements of trade
Class 3 vending machines are those whose activities involve the sale of foods not commonly associated with food poisoning, e.g. coffee, pre-packaged sandwiches or pre-packaged pies. Given the lower food safety risks involved, they must:
- register annually with council
- lodge statements of trade
- keep the required minimum records about suppliers – access the record sheet at Food premises classification and registration.
Find out how to register with council
Information about food premises classification and how to register with council can be accessed at Food premises classification and registration.
Online will save time
In 2012, temporary and mobile food operators will be able to register or notify council, renew their registration, and lodge their statements of trade online.
Visit this site from time to time for updates on the online scheme, including its commencement date.
What are temporary or mobile food premises?
“Temporary food premises” are temporary stalls or tents from which food is sold, such as at a market or festival. It can be any structure that is not permanently fixed to a site.
“Mobile food premises” are vehicles such as vans, trailers or carts from which food is sold.
A water transport vehicle is operated by a private business and involves the delivery of water for sale to the public which is intended for:
- human consumption, or
- purposes connected with human consumption (such as preparation of food, making ice for consumption, or preserving unpackaged food).
