Food Safety and Food Premises

It is important to ensure that food sold within the municipality is safe and suitable for human consumption.

Inspections are conducted to enforce the need for food premises to be clean, to avoid unsatisfactory food handling practices, ensure safe storage, manufacture, cooking and display of food.

Investigations are also conducted in response to food complaints.

When to register your Food Business

Your registration as a food business lasts for the period of 1 January to 31 December, even if you should apply for registration late in the year. Registration needs to be renewed annually prior to 31 December each year.

Please note: Penalty fees may apply if you have not paid by the due date.

Starting a New Food Business

Under the Food Act 1984, all food businesses within Brimbank should register or notify their business with Brimbank City Council prior to commencement of trade.

Business operators are welcome to contact Brimbank City Council’s Environmental Health Services Department to discuss the application process.

Before you commence any construction work on your premises, contact an Environmental Health Officer from Council to discuss the requirements that need to be met.

Food Business from Residential Premises

Only food businesses intending to operate from a residential address where the areas being used by the business are completely separate from the domestic household activities can be registered.

Buying an existing food business

If you are intending to purchase an existing food business you be will required to transfer the businesses current Food Act Registration.

It is recommended that you organise an inspection of the premises by a Brimbank City Council Environmental Health Services officer prior to purchase. You can do this by calling 9249 4919 during business hours.

Compulsory Food Safety Programs

All Class 2 and 3 food businesses in Brimbank are required to have a Food Safety Program prior to commencing a new food business or transferring an existing food business.

The Food Safety Program is a document that establishes monitors and records the procedures and systems in place to ensures that all food you sell is safe.  The document must be available onsite at all times upon request of an Authorised Officer.

Please note: Premises currently using the old Department of Health Food Safety Program template Version.1.0 will need to change to Version 2.0 of the template.

The Food Safety Program Template can be downloaded at www.health.vic.gov.au/foodsafety

All Class 3 Food Businesses in Brimbank are required to keep minimal Food Safety Records. Please contact the Environmental Health Department if you require a copy.

Nominating a Food Safety Supervisor

Each Food Safety Program requires a Food Safety Supervisor. This person must obtain a certificate at the required competency standard relevant to their industry.

You can search for training in your area on the Short Courses Victoria website by entering ‘food safety’ in the ‘find a course’ section.

Do your Food Safely online training

It is recommended that all staff complete the online Do Food Safely program, providing staff with basic knowledge in food safety and food handling.

Temporary Food Vendor Application and Community Group Activities

Please contact the Environmental Health Department for information on Temporary Events and Sausage Sizzles on 9249 4919

Mobile Food Premises

Mobile food premises include relocatable tents, stalls, mobile vans and vending machines. 

From July 2011 there will be a state-wide single registration system that will enable market stalls, other temporary premises food vans, and food vending machines to operate anywhere in Victoria. 

To do so, the stall, van or machines will be required to:

• Be annually registered with the municipality in which the premises is based and
• Lodge a statement of trade which specifies the details of where the stalls or van will trade.

Please note: Council will retain the discretion to inspect food vans and stalls and food vending machines in line with their own policies.

Further Information

For more information please call 9249 4000 or email info@brimbank.vic.gov.au