Learn how to register your food premises or lodge a notification with us.
Under the Victorian Food Act, you must register your food premises or lodge a notification with us. What you need to do depends on the classification of your food premises.
A business concierge enquiry helps us understand what your business needs are, including what permits you may require.
An Economic Development Officer will be your main point of contact with us. They're here to guide you from the start and continue supporting you once your business is up and running.
After we have reviewed your business concierge enquiry, we will inform you about any additional permits you need to secure before registering or notifying us of your food premises.
This may include:
- Building permits and/or
- Planning permits
- Footpath trading permits (outdoor dining).
If you're planning building works or alterations, please review our food premises and equipment guidelines [ DOC, 11.18 MB] . Your premises must comply with food safety standards.
Once your business concierge enquiry is complete, we will send you a confirmation email with the link to the application form to register your food business.
You must log into your account to complete the application.
The form will ask about the services you plan to offer, which helps us determine the applicable fees.
You will need to provide the following information:
- your food handling activities and food processes
- your general business information, including the property address
- contact numbers and an email address a that is accessed regularly (all relevant correspondence will be sent to this email)
- proprietor name (company, individual or partnership)
- Australian Business Number ABN
- your trading name (registered business name).
| Standard | Not-for-profit | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $338 | $169 |
| Registration or renewal fee | $676 | $338 |
| Fee per additional employee (more than 10) | $33.80 | $16.90 |
| Standard | Not-for-profit | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $169 | $84.50 |
| Registration or renewal fee | $338 | $169 |
| Fee per additional employee (more than 10) | $16.90 | $8.45 |
Once your premises is registered you will need to renew each year.
For businesses that register between 1 October and 31 December the fee will be calculated to cover 15 months. This will ensure your registration period is through to the end of the following December.
To run a temporary or mobile food premises such as:
- a food truck,
- market stall,
- fundraiser or
- sausage sizzle
you must either register or submit a notification depending on your classification.
In addition, Statements of Trade (SOT) are required to be lodged for each event.
Visit FoodTrader to:
- register or submit a notification
- lodge a Statement of Trade for your event
The requirements are the same as for other food premises, but temporary and mobile food premises may comply with requirements in a different way.
Food premises are classified according to their highest risk food handling activities.
If your business is class 1, 2, 3 or 3A, you must renew your registration every year. You will receive a renewal notice in November to renew the registration before it expires on 31 December.
Class 4 businesses do not require payment of any fees and do not require annual renewals.
Food premises registrations are not transferable.
If you're taking over an existing food business, you must apply for a new food registration. Please submit a business concierge enquiry.
If you need help complying, download our food premises and equipment guidelines [ DOC, 11.18 MB] .
If you do not comply with FSS requirements, your registration may be suspended or revoked.
Please let us know if any of the following changes:
- contact details (phone, email or postal address)
- business details (trading name, ABN, type of premises)
- food handling practices
- food safety supervisor(s)
- food safety programs
- trading hours.
If you recently closed or transferred ownership of your business, please advise us.
| Activity | Authority |
| Meat, game, poultry, fish and seafood handling or processing | PrimeSafe |
| Dairy handling or processing | Dairy Food Safety Victoria |
| Sale or production of herbal medicines | Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria |
| Sale or production of medicines or consumable medical treatments | Therapeutic Goods Administration |