Food Business Regulations

A new National Food Safety Standard applying in Tasmania will begin on 8 December 2023.

The Standard introduces new requirements for food service, catering, and retail business that handle unpackaged, read-to-eat, potentially hazardous foods. It introduces three ‘tools’ for certain food service, caterer and retail businesses:

• food handler training requirements
• appoint a food safety supervisor
• record keeping of key safe food handling practices

Relevant businesses will receive an email outlining which of the new requirements apply to their business and the actions they need to take to comply by 8 December 2023. Southern Midlands Council Environmental Health Officers will also discuss them with you over the coming months during routine food safety inspections.

Further information and resources are available on the Department of Health website or by calling 1800 671 738.

The Tasmanian Department of Health website includes the following information for finding an FSS course:

• TasTAFE is an RTO offering FSS training in Tasmania in a mixed format (online with face-to-face assessment):
  • tastafe.tas.edu.au or phone 1300 655 307
• Various RTOs offering online-only courses are listed on the NSW Food Authority and SA Health websites:
  • NSW list: foodauthority.nsw.gov.au
  • SA list: Go to sahealth.sa.gov.au and search for ‘food safety supervisor certification’.
• Alternatively, search for training courses or RTOs via the National Training Register:
  • training.gov.autraining.gov.au

If you have completed training in the past 5 years, review your Statement of Attainment/certificate to see if you have already completed the required units with an RTO.

For more information: health.tas.gov.au/food-safety-supervisor

Important ways to keep food safe include:

• safe temperatures for cooking and storage
• keeping food areas clean
• stopping cross contamination
• washing hands.

If your business is handling food, you can use these food safety resources:

Cleaning schedule
Food business handwashing 
Temperature monitoring chart 

To make selling food safe for everybody there are rules that businesses must follow when it comes to food labelling. You need to consider how you will package and label your food, as people buying your food need to know what’s in it.

View the food labelling information sheet.

It is important to check the food label when buying food every time you purchase a product. Even if it has been a ‘safe’ food in the past, manufacturers can change ingredients and processes at any time.

View the Food Allergy Labelling Requirements

If you want to sell food from a building in the Southern Midlands area, you need to apply for a fixed premises licence and pay a fee.

View the food business registration form
View the Schedule of Fees and Charges 
Environmental Health Food Business Construction Guide Jan 2024

Please note:

• We will let you know what the registration fee is when you apply to register your food business.
• We need to inspect your kitchen, please get in touch to organise a time.
• If you want to build a new kitchen, we have some helpful advice in our food business construction guide (PDF).
• If you are taking over an existing business that sells food, it is a good idea to get us to have a look before you buy. There is a fee, but it could save you money because we will tell you if there are any problems. When you buy a business that sells food, these problems will become your problem.
• Whether you are taking over an existing food business, you will need to fill in our application forms because you can’t use the old food business licence.

Mobile Food Business Registration

An annual mobile food business registration is approval under the Food Act 2003 to operate a food van or stall across Tasmania and is renewed every financial year. You will need to apply to be registered with the local Council where you garage your food van or store your stall equipment. To apply for a mobile food business registration with Southern Midlands Council, complete and submit the following application form

The completed form can be emailed to mail@southernmidlands.tas.gov.au  or submitted at the Council service counter. Once the application has been assessed and the food van or stall has been inspected, a risk classification will be assigned, and you will be invoiced for the associated fee.

While the registration grants approval to trade as a food business under the Food Act 2003, it does not cover approval for specific trading locations. See below for further information.

Mobile Food Business Guidelines

Mobile food vans and stalls must be set up and operated in accordance with the Guidelines for Mobile Food Businesses developed by the Tasmanian Department of Health. This document outlines the design, construction and fit-out of food vans and stalls and also their operational requirements.

Mobile Food Business Trading Locations

Events and markets are good opportunities to trade with a mobile food business and will usually only require the approval of the market or event coordinator. Most events and markets are happy to accept both food vans and stalls.

For a mobile food business to trade on Council land outside of events and markets, it must have the following approvals:

Be a registered food van or similar vehicle. Stalls are not permitted.
Have a current registration as a mobile food business under the Food Act 2003.
Have a current Council roadside trading permit
Approved locations as per Appendix 1 – Mobile Food Vendors Policy
For more information on roadside trading permits, consult the Mobile Food Business Guidelines or call Council and ask to speak to someone in the planning department prior to completing a Mobile Food Business Permit.

Temporary Mobile Food Businesses

Trading on private land with a mobile food business outside of events and markets may require planning approval. For more information, call Council and ask to speak to someone in the Planning department.

If you are planning a once-off food event, then you can apply to be registered for one day or more using the above application form.

If you are having a barbeque to raise money for your sports team or charity on a given day, or a market or event that runs for a few weeks or even months, you need to apply for a short-term licence and pay a fee.

View the application form 
View the Schedule of Fees and Charges

For information on how to set up your temporary food business, you can view the Department of Health and Human Service’s stall and equipment guide.

If your business no longer requires a food license (due to closure or change of use) please notify the Environmental Health department of the change. You can email the details to health@southernmidlands.tas.gov.au or contact your Environmental Health Officer at Council.

Please note food business licenses are NOT transferable.

You may be eligible for a partial refund on your registration. Talk to your Environmental Health Officer and complete the refund form.

Change of ownership

If you are taking over an existing business that sells food, it is a good idea to get us to have a look before you buy. There is a fee, but it could save you money because we will tell you if there are any problems. When you buy a business that sells food, these problems will become your problem.

If you are taking over an existing food business, you will need to fill in our application forms because you can’t use the old food business licence.

Please contact our Environmental Health Department if you wish to lodge a complaint to council against a business in the Southern Midlands Municipality if you have:

Suffered an illness as a result of consuming food purchased from their premises
Found a foreign object (for example, glass, insect, etc) in food purchased from their premises
Concerns about poor food preparation, handling or display practices at their premises
Concerns about the cleanliness of their premises
Contact us to Lodge a Complaint