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Who this Licence suits
This licence is for businesses that operate a dairy farm in Victoria.
You must hold a dairy farmer licence before you start operating, unless Safe Food Victoria confirms another arrangement applies.
Before you apply
Before applying, make sure you understand your legal responsibilities and have the right systems in place.
You should:
- make sure your farm, premises and equipment are suitable
- have a farm quality assurance or food safety program
- check whether you need additional approval for specific milk production activities
- make sure you have the skills to manage food safety in your business.
You should also speak with the company you will supply milk to. They may provide quality assurance program information that supports your application.
If you are unsure which licence applies, contact Safe Food Victoria before you apply.
Download the dairy farmer licence application form: [TBC - add dairy farmer licence application PDF link]
Licence requirements
To operate a dairy farm business in Victoria, you must be licensed by Safe Food Victoria under the Dairy Act 2000.
Dairy farmer licence holders must comply with the conditions of their licence.
You must also comply with relevant requirements under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, including Part 3.2 and Standard 4.2.4.
Read the Victorian dairy licence handbook for more information about operating under a dairy licence: [TBC - add Victorian dairy licence handbook link]
Farm, premises and equipment
Your farm, premises and equipment must be:
- fit for purpose
- in good repair
- able to be cleaned effectively
- able to be sanitised effectively.
Your farm, premises and equipment must meet the relevant requirements of Standard 3.2.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Read the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code: [TBC - add Food Standards Code link]
Farm quality assurance or food safety program
You must have a farm quality assurance or food safety program.
Most milk companies provide farm quality assurance program templates. These templates may meet dairy farm food safety program requirements.
If your milk company provides a suitable quality assurance program, you can adopt and implement that program.
If your milk company does not provide a suitable program, you must develop a documented food safety program.
Your food safety program must be based on HACCP principles. It must describe how you control or reduce significant food safety hazards when producing milk.
Read the minimum requirements for farm food safety programs: [TBC - add minimum requirements for farm food safety programs link]
Use the dairy farm food safety program template if you need to develop your own program: [TBC - add dairy farm food safety program template link]
Producing milk for raw milk cheese
If you intend to produce milk for raw milk cheese, you must meet additional requirements under Standard 4.2.4.
These requirements must be addressed in your documented food safety program.
Read the raw milk cheese requirements and checklist: [TBC - add raw milk cheese requirements link]
Milk not intended for human consumption
If you intend to sell, deliver or supply milk not intended for human consumption, you must get approval from Safe Food Victoria.
You must show how the milk will be treated to deter human consumption.
You must also show how the milk will be clearly separated from dairy food intended for people.
This requirement also applies if you supply raw milk to a manufacturer that is not a licensed dairy manufacturer.
Skills and competency
You must have the skills and competency to manage food safety in your dairy farm business.
Training courses may be available to help you meet these requirements.
Related legislation and standards
- Dairy Act 2000: [TBC - link]
Who must apply
The licence must be held by the person or legal entity responsible for operating the dairy farm business.
This is the person or legal entity responsible for regulatory compliance.
The applicant must be a legal entity, such as:
- an individual
- a registered partnership
- a company
- a trustee and trust.
Multiple sites
If you operate from more than one site, each site must be licensed separately.
Submit your application
To apply, download and complete the dairy farmer licence application form.
You must send your completed form and payment to Safe Food Victoria.
Download the dairy farmer licence application form: [TBC - add dairy farmer licence application PDF link]
Email your completed application to: [TBC - confirm SFV application email]
Transfer a dairy farmer licence
If you are taking over an existing dairy farm business, you must apply to transfer the existing dairy farmer licence.
Do not apply for a new licence if you are taking over a current licence from another person or company.
Download the dairy farmer licence transfer form: [TBC - add dairy farmer licence transfer PDF link]
Read more about licence transfers: [TBC - add dairy farmer licence transfer information link]
There is no fee to transfer a dairy farmer licence.
A transfer request may be rejected if the required process or actions are not completed within 6 months.
Before you start operating
You must not start operating until Safe Food Victoria has issued your licence.
Operating without a licence may result in enforcement action.
Application assessment timeframes
Safe Food Victoria will assess your dairy farmer licence application after receiving a complete application.
A complete application includes:
- the completed application form
- the application fee
- a farm quality assurance or food safety program.
Safe Food Victoria will contact you within 7 business days after receiving a complete application.
Safe Food Victoria aims to process complete applications within 30 days.
Food safety program requirements
To help Safe Food Victoria assess your application, you must provide one of the following:
- a pre-approved food safety program adopted from the manufacturer you supply
- a food safety program that meets Safe Food Victoria requirements.
Bovine dairy farmers may be asked to complete a new farm remote inspection checklist.
This checklist may be completed with your field officer if needed.
Providing additional information
Safe Food Victoria may ask you to update your food safety program.
If this happens, you must provide the updated information within 30 days.
If you do not respond within 30 days, Safe Food Victoria may:
- refuse your application
- keep the application fee.
Delays and application cancellations
Your application may be delayed if it does not meet regulatory requirements.
If your application is not approved within 3 months of being received, Safe Food Victoria may refuse the application unless an extension is approved.
If the required conditions are not met, your application may also be cancelled after 6 months from the application date.
If your application is refused or cancelled:- Safe Food Victoria will notify you
- you will need to submit a new application
- Safe Food Victoria will not issue a refund.
Application and licence fees
You must pay the application fee when you submit a new dairy farmer licence application.
There is no fee to apply to transfer a dairy farmer licence.
Dairy farmer licence fees may be paid through the Milk Volume Reporting system or invoiced directly by Safe Food Victoria.
Milk Volume Reporting farms
Some dairy farmer licence fees are paid through deductions from milk payments.
The manufacturer forwards these fees to Safe Food Victoria.
Fees are calculated using the volume of milk supplied to the manufacturer.
Non-Milk Volume Reporting farms
Some farms do not pay licence fees through the Milk Volume Reporting system.
For these farms, licence fees are calculated using the declared production volume over the licence period.
Safe Food Victoria invoices these farms directly.
Check the current fee before you apply.
View dairy licence fees: [TBC - add SFV fees page link]Guidance
Safe Food Victoria provides guidance to help dairy farmers understand their food safety responsibilities.
Guidance may include information about:
- dairy farmer licensing
- farm food safety programs
- quality assurance programs
- raw milk cheese requirements
- milk not intended for human consumption
- farm premises and equipment requirements.
Read the dairy farm food safety guidance: [TBC - current guidance out of date]
Technical advice
Safe Food Victoria can provide advice about dairy farmer licensing and food safety requirements.
Contact Safe Food Victoria if you need help before applying.
Email: [TBC - confirm SFV contact email]
Phone: [TBC - confirm SFV phone number]
Other information and resources
Other regulatory and technical resources are available on this site.
View guidance and resources: [TBC - add SFV guidance and resources page link]
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