Food

A key responsibility of Council’s Compliance branch is to monitor and inspect businesses to ensure compliance with the Food Act 2003 and the Public Health Act 2010. Event organisers must ensure all food vendors are registered with Council. Unregistered vendors will not be permitted to trade. These requirements apply to all food and beverage operations, including samples, whether sold or given away at charity, fundraising, sporting, promotional or commercial events.

Under Section 100 of the Food Act 2003, all food businesses, including temporary and mobile food vendors operating at events, are required to submit a Food Business Notification to Council. This is not an application and does not require assessment; Council receives and records these notifications.

Food businesses must complete and submit the online Food Business Notification Form via Council’s website. Upon submission, the business will receive a submission receipt (including a copy of their notification) to their nominated email address.

Submit a Food Business Notification Form

Event Organiser responsibilities 

The event organiser is responsible for:

• Notifying Council of the event at least three months prior (or before contacting potential food vendors) to ensure access to the most current requirements;
• Distributing the correct and current Food Business Notification information to all participating food vendors;
• Ensuring all food businesses submit their Food Business Notifications to Council at least 21 days prior to the event;
• Critically, verifying that all participating food businesses have completed and submitted their Food Business Notifications to Council;
• Providing Council with a confirmed list of all food businesses and an event site map at least 14 days prior to the event;
• Ensuring all food businesses understand and comply with requirements for operating a food premises at an event;
• Providing or arranging necessary infrastructure, including communal wash-up facilities, power, water, and sewerage disposal where required; and
• Terminating agreements with, or removing, any food business that fails to comply with food safety standards or regulatory requirements.

Failure to ensure all food businesses have submitted a Food Business Notification may result in non-compliance with the Food Act 2003 and may impact the approval or operation of the event.