Food business registration

All businesses that sell or handle food must be registered with the relevant registration authorities, under the Food Act 1984.

Food businesses must also let us know where their business is located or the food vehicle is garaged. This applies to businesses including:

  • supermarkets
  • restaurants
  • cafes
  • convenience stores
  • bakeries
  • fish and chip shops.

Victoria's Department of Health has implemented changes to the Food Act legislation. This may affect your current Food Act registration with us. To find out if these changes affect your Food Act business registration please complete the eService online form.

Some food businesses must register with industry-specific authorities.

Butchers

If your business is predominately involved in meat or seafood processing (such as butchers, boning rooms and fish mongers), you must be registered with PrimeSafe.

PO Box 2057
South Melbourne VIC, 3205
Phone: 03 9685 7333

Visit the PrimeSafe website

Dairy businesses

If your business is involved in dairy processing or manufacturing (such as cheese, yogurt and milk manufacturers), you must register with Dairy Food Safety Victoria.

PO Box 8221
Camberwell North VIC, 3124
Phone: 03 9810 5900

Visit the Dairy Food Safety Victoria website

For more information about Food Act registration, visit the Department of Health's food safety website.

 

Preparing for your new Food Act registration

Step 1.Contact our Business Concierge

Contact our Business Concierge to check if any planning or building permits are required before preparing for your food registration at business.concierge@whittlesea.vic.gov.au. You must obtain these permits before registering with Environmental Health Services. 

Step 2.Check who you need to register with

Find out who your food business should be registered with. If we are the suitable registration authority, continue to next step. 

Step 3.Complete the online form

Complete the online Food Act application to register form. You need to get approval before starting any construction works. We highly recommend that you submit plans of the proposed works to ensure compliance with the Food Standards Code. See the plans approval service tab on this page for more information.

Step 4.Pay your fee

Check below to see the fee that applies to your proposed food business. Please note your Food Act application won't be assessed until we've received full payment.

Complete a food safety program

After assessing your plans, our environmental health officer will let you know your food premises classification. They will also advise whether you need a food safety program and a food safety supervisor.

Step 5.Progress inspection

One of our Environmental Health Officers will conduct progress inspections during the construction of your food business or premises to ensure it complies with the Food Standards Code.

Step 6.Final inspection 

Before opening the food business, one of our environmental health officers will complete a final inspection. If the premises meets food safety standards you will receive your certificate of registration. 

Setting up a food business at home

If you want to operate a food business from your home, you must register with us and meet certain requirements to ensure your business does not negatively affect your neighbourhood.

Step 1.Contact our Business Concierge

Contact our Business Concierge to check if any planning or building permits are required before preparing for your food registration at business.concierge@whittlesea.vic.gov.au. You must obtain these permits before registering with Environmental Health Services. 

Step 2.Complete the online form

Complete the online Food Act application to register form. You need to get approval before starting any construction works. We highly recommend that you submit plans of the proposed works to ensure compliance with the Food Standards Code. See the plans approval service tab on this page for more information.

Step 3.Chat with an EHO

An environmental health officer will contact you to discuss your application to register any any requirement for a food safety and risk assessment. This is to determine if an existing kitchen can be modified or if a separate kitchen area is needed to comply with the Food Standards Code.

Step 4.Check your rental agreement

If you live in a rental property, check that your rental agreement allows you to operate a business from the premises.

Step 5.Wait for approval

Once all of the above requirements are addressed and satisfied, then approval may be granted to commence the suitable works to obtain Food Act registration.

Alternatively, you can choose to lease a registered commercial kitchen that already meets the Food Act requirements.

We have venue with kitchens for hire. To find out about kitchen availability contact the relevant centre manager.

See our kitchen venues for hire

Step 6.Progress inspection

One of our EHOs will conduct progress inspections during the construction of your food business or premises to ensure it complies with the Food Standards Code.

Step 7.Final inspection

Before opening the food business, one of our environmental health officers will complete a final inspection. If the premises meets food safety standards you will receive your certificate of registration. 

Plans approval service

Follow these steps when providing us with plans for a new food business:

Step 1.Complete the plans approval section of the form

Complete the online plans approval section of the Food Act application to register form.

Step 2.Attach a copy of your plans

Attach one copy of the floor plan of the business or kitchen (drawn to a scale of 1:100), and separate plans for any mechanical exhaust systems. All plans must include specifications and details of surfaces, fittings and equipment, according to our Food Premises Development Guide.

Download our guide

Food Premises Development Guide (accessible)(DOCX, 198KB)

Food Premises Development Guide(PDF, 442KB)

Step 3.Include food vehicle specs

If you are setting up a food vehicle, download the guide Food Vehicle Structural Specifications.

Download our guide

Food Vehicle Structural Specifications (accessible)(DOCX, 683KB)

Food Vehicle Structural Specifications(PDF, 517KB)

Step 4.Pay the plans approval fee

Pay the plans approval fee (for Food Premises Class 1, 2, 3) of $217.85 via the online Food Act application form.

Note: this fee does not cover the Food Act registration. We can't assess your application until we have received full payment.

Step 5.Wait for approval

We will process your application within 14 days of receiving complete plans and specifications. We will then send you back:

  • one copy of the approved plan
  • a letter with conditions
  • contact details of the responsible environmental health officer (EHO).

We advise you not to begin any major work on setting up the new food business or premises until you receive the approved plan.

Registration fees for new food businesses 

Food Act businesses are registered for the calendar year that the business commenced operation. Fees will vary depending on the date the business opens.

  • A full fee is charged in the first six months of the year (from January to June).
  • A pro-rata half fee is charged during the three months from July to September
  • In the last three months of the year (October to December) a full fee is charged that will register the business till 31 December of the following year (to a maximum of 15 months).

New registration: Class 1 food business

  • $1,065 (between 1 Jan - 30 June)
  • $532.50 (between 1 Jul - 30 Sept)
  • $1,065 (between 1 Oct - 31 Dec of the following year)

New registration: Class 2 food business

  • $762.80 (between 1 Jan - 30 June)
  • $381.40 (between 1 Jul - 30 Sept)
  • $762.80 (between 1 Oct - 31 Dec of the following year)

New registration: Class 3 and Class 3A food business

  • $532 (between 1 Jan - 30 June)
  • $266 (between 1 Jul - 30 Sept)
  • $532 (between 1 Oct - 31 Dec of the following year)

Food Act registration exemption

A classification system exists to ensure the regulatory requirements match the level of food safety risk at different types of premises. Visit Food Safety Victoria for more information

Class 4 premises exempt from registration

Premises under classes 1, 2,3 and 3A must register with us.

Class 4 premises are exempt from Food Act registration and simply need to notify us that they exist by completing and returning a Notification of a food premises form.

Download a notification form

Notification of a Class 4 Food Premises form (accessible)(DOCX, 180KB)

Notification of a Class 4 Food Premises(PDF, 244KB)

Renew your Food Act registration

All registered food businesses must renew their Food Act registration each year. We email business in mid-November with information on how to renew the registration using the Health Manager online portal system.

The business owner must inform us if details have changed in the last 12 months. You can do this by logging into your private and secure online portal account and reviewing your details. Once you have confirmed your details, the renewal form and payment can be submitted to us using the online portal system.

You will receive a certificate for the next year's registration once finalised.

Renew your Food Act registration

Sign up for food e-news

Food e-news is a quarterly newsletter for food handling businesses within the City of Whittlesea. It's your go-to source for updates, educational resources, and networking opportunities within the local food industry.

Subscribe now

Contact Us

Phone

(03) 9217 2170

Email

info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Related Information

Back to top