Food business registration

If you are purchasing an existing food business OR starting a new food business you will need to comply with current food legislation. You will also need to register your food business with council before you can begin trade.

Victoria classifies food premises according to the level of food safety risk and the type of food handling activities that occur at the premises. Food premises are classified according to the highest risk activity occurring at the premises. As of July 1st 2022, there are 5 classes of food businesses, categorised by risk:

  • Class 1: Premises serving food to potentially vulnerable customers at higher risk, eg. nursing homes, hospitals and childcare centres.
  • Class 2: Food premises where any unpackaged, potentially hazardous food is handled or manufactured. This also includes manufacturers of low-risk foods where any allergen-free claim is made about that product.
  • Class 3: Food premises handling low-risk food or wholesale of pre-packaged food, those selling pre-packaged potentially hazardous food, the sale of eggs in shell, the sale of ready-to-eat potentially hazardous food by community group, or the manufacture of sweet or savoury foods which do not require temperature control for minimum of 2 hours eg. cakes, cookies, muffins, etc. (Note: must NOT contain fresh cream/ custard added after cooking).
  • Class 3A: Food premises preparing/ cooking potentially hazardous food for immediate consumption to guests at an accommodation getaway, OR home-based or temporary food premises making food using a hot-fill process (eg. chutneys, sauces, relishes).
  • Class 4: Premises selling pre-packaged shelf-stable food (eg. newsagent, bottle shop), the sale of pre-packaged cake/ tea/ coffee sales by community group, sale of sausages cooked and served immediately by community group (eg. fundraising BBQ), sale of whole fruit/ vegetables, the handling of low-risk food/ cut fruit or vegetables for children at education/ care facilities, coffee/ tea/ other beverage sellers (including alcohol) with no addition of potentially hazardous foods.

New business

Step 1.Speak to an Environmental Health Officer

We strongly recommend you speak to one of our Environmental Health Officers about your application. They can give you advice and tips to ensure you complete your application correctly. 

Step 2.Gather your documents

To register your new food business, you'll need to submit the following:

If you are registering a Class 1 or Class 2 business, you must have an Food Safety Program and someone must have completed food safety supervision training. You will need to submit: 

  • A copy of your Food Safety Program 
  • A copy of food safety training certificate

Step 3.Submit your application

You can submit your application to us via:

Step 4.Inspection

One of our Environmental Health Officers will contact you to discuss your application, and arrange a pre-registration inspection of your premises

Step 5.Approval

Once your premises is compliant, you will be issued with a certificate of registration and can commence trading! 


Please refer to the below fees and charges.

Health-and-Caravan-Parks-Fees-and-Charges-2024-25.pdf(PDF, 197KB)

 

Mobile food business

All temporary and mobile food businesses must be registered using the Victorian Government's Food Trader website. 

Step 1.Speak to an Environmental Health Officer

We strongly recommend you speak to one of our Environmental Health Officers about your application. They can give you advice and tips to ensure you complete your application correctly. 

Step 2.Complete your online application

Go to the Food Trader website to create an account and complete an online application. Your application will be sent to us for review. If further information is required, an Environmental Health Officer will contact you to discuss. 

Please note, if you are registering a Class 2 food business, you must have a Food Safety Program and someone must have completed food safety supervision training. You will need to submit to us:

  • A copy of your Food Safety Program
  • A copy of food safety training certificate 

Step 3.Inspection & Approval

One of our Environmental Health Officers will contact you to discuss your application and arrange a pre-registration inspection of your mobile premises. Once your mobile food premises is deemed compliant, your application will be approved and you will receive a certificate of registration from Council.

Step 4.Lodge a Statement of Trade

Once your application is approved, you will need to lodge a Statement of Trade (SOT) to let us know when and where you want to operate. This is done via your account on the Food trader website. You can lodge a SOT via Food Trader to trade in any Victorian council area.

You need to lodge a SOT at least 5 days before trading. There is no fee to lodge a SOT.

If the information in your SOT is incorrect or changes, you can lodge a new one via Food Trader. 

Once your SOT is approved on Food Trader, you can commence trading!

Step 5.Obtain any relevant permits

If you plan to trade on Council land, you may also need to obtain a Itinerant Trading Permit.

Please refer to the below fees and charges.

Health-and-Caravan-Parks-Fees-and-Charges-2024-25.pdf(PDF, 197KB)

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62 - 68 Ovens Street
Wangaratta
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