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Food service, retail and manufacturing

If your food business is a hospital, cafe, restaurant, supermarket, manufacturer or caterer you need a food licence from your local council.

On this page

Check if you need a food licence

Local councils are responsible for registering and regulating most food businesses in Victoria. Safe Food Victoria licenses meat, poultry, seafood and dairy businesses, as well as businesses producing food using new or emerging technologies. Horticulture, seed sprout and egg producers are regulated by Agriculture Victoria.
Use this list to find out which authority you need to be licensed with.

Getting started

Find out how to register your business.

Local council registered food businesses - what you need to know

How to register your food business and understand your food safety requirements.

Food trucks, vans and market stalls

What you need to operate a temporary or mobile food premises.

Guide for water carting businesses

Requirements for businesses selling water intended for public consumption

Stay compliant

If your business is registered with your local council, depending on the type of food you would like to sell you may also need a:

  • Food Safety Program (FSP)
  • Food Safety Supervisor
Your local council can tell you what you need to do to stay compliant.

Food safety programs

A food safety program helps businesses identify and manage food safety risks.

FoodSmart

FoodSmart is a free food safety program template developed for food service and retail businesses.

Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code

The legal requirements for food safety, labelling and food handling in Australia.

Food safety supervisor

Find out if you need a food safety supervisor and how to meet your food safety responsibilities.

Food labelling and shelf life

An overview of shelf life and food labelling requirements for food businesses.

Compliance checks

All food businesses are inspected by their local council. Some businesses may also require a food safety audit. Your local council will tell you what checks you need.

Audits and inspections

What to expect from audits, how they work, and how to prepare your business to stay compliant.

Auditors

Learn how to become a certified Safe Food Victoria auditor.

Manage risk and harm

Allergens in food

Information on how to reduce the risk of allergens in food.

Personal hygiene for food handlers

Information on good personal hygiene and safe practices to help prevent food poisoning.

Safe food preparation, storage and display

Information on how to avoid cross-contamination and manage food safety risks.

Preventing food poisoning

Information on how food poisoning occurs and how to prevent it.

Food business home delivery guide

This guide supports food businesses that deliver perishable food using unrefrigerated vehicles.

Remote temperature monitoring of food

Information on remote temperature monitoring systems for fridges and freezers.

Egg safety for food service

Information on egg safety if you prepare and serve eggs.

Egg safety for retailers and distributors

Information on egg safety if you sell or distribute whole eggs.

Water supply safety for food preparation

Food businesses and community groups using private water supplies must ensure their water is safe for drinking and food preparation

Education and training

Food handler training - community or not-for-profit

Food safety responsibilities of staff and volunteers, and how to safely sell food.

Food handler training - Do Food Safely

DoFoodSafely is a free online learning resource for people working with food.

Updated

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