Food safety in Bayside
Get all the information you need to opening and running a food business in Bayside, plus some important food safety tips for your home.
Find out about
- Opening a new food or drink business
- Buying an existing food or drink business
- Food safety programs and record sheets
- Food safety in the community - Food recalls, allergens, and training
Opening a new food or drink business
If you're opening a food or drink business, or wish to serve food as part of your accommodation business in Bayside, you need to apply for a food registration.
The following is the step-by-step process for registering.
Step 1. Submit plans for assessment
Our Environmental Health Officers can assist in the preparation of plans for your new food or drink business. For further information to assist you, please read our food premises design and construction specifications. This is an optional step, but is highly recommended.
- To have your plans assessed, submit our online food premise assessment form along with your plans and fee before commencing any works.
- Your plan will be reviewed and endorsed by an Environmental Health Officer with specific conditions in accordance with the Food Safety Standards of Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code.
- If the plans submitted require an amendment or information has been omitted the applicant will be notified in writing to provide further information and to resubmit an amended copy of the plans.
- Once the plans have been approved, an endorsed copy of the plans along with a letter of conditions will be forwarded to the applicant.
- Work should commence once the plans have been endorsed by the Environmental Health Officer.
- Progress inspections may be carried out throughout the project to ensure compliance with the endorsed plans.
Apply to have your premises plans assessed
Step 2. Apply for registration
All businesses, organisations, individuals and community groups selling food or drink in Victoria must be classified according to the highest level of risk their food handling activities pose. To determine what classification Class your business may be, see the Food Business Classifications List.
It takes about 10 minutes to complete the form and you will need the following information:
- Contact details for the business.
- Details about the class and operations of your business.
- Class 1 and 2: food safety program information, food safety supervisor contact details, copy of menu to upload, copy of floor plans to upload, numbers of employees.
- Class 3: copy of menu to upload, copy of floor plans to upload, numbers of employees.
Applications are usually processed within 7 days after being received.
You should only apply for this food business registration once the fit out and internal works are completed, and the business is ready to trade.
Register to open a new food or drink business
Step 3. A final inspection before you start trading
A final inspection is required of the food premises prior to Council issuing of a Certificate of Food Act Registration. At the final inspection, your Environmental Health Officer will:
- Confirm the details of your Application for Registration.
- Assess whether your food premises has been constructed in compliance with the Food Standards Code and the Food Act 1984.
- Ensure you have the necessary cleaning chemicals and food preparation equipment to operate and prepare food safely.
- Find important food safety tips for businesses.
To book a final inspection, contact your Environmental Health Officer on 9599 4417 or via email.
Notifying Council of a Class 4 food or drink business
You must notify Council if you operate a Class 4 food or drink business.
A Class 4 food or drink business includes the following:
- The sale of shelf-stable, pre-packaged, low-risk food such as confectionery, crisps, frozen ice cream, milk and bottled drinks (e.g. newsagents, pharmacies, video stores and some milk bars).
- The sale of packaged alcohol, for example bottle shops.
- The sale of uncut fruit and vegetables, for example farmers markets, green grocers and wholesalers.
- Wine tasting (which can include serving low risk food and cheese).
- The sale of packaged cakes (excluding cream cakes).
- The supply of low-risk food, including cut fruit, at sessional kindergarten or child care.
For a full list of Class 4 activities, visit the Food Business Classifications List.
Notify Council of your Class 4 food or drink business
Buying an existing food or drink business
Request a presale business inspection
A prospective purchaser or solicitor acting on their behalf may request a report detailing any outstanding requirements and/or Orders for an existing business. You must obtain the consent from the current owner prior to the release of the information.
The standard response time is 10 workings days and if urgent, a report can be provided within 4 working days upon payment of the applicable fee.
On receipt of the request, consent and appropriate fee, an Environmental Health Officer will conduct an inspection of the premises.
A report will be prepared and issued to the person requesting the report. A copy of the report will also be forwarded to the registered proprietor of the premises.
Consent to release information
Request a presale business inspection
Change of ownership for an existing food or drink business
When a change of ownership occurs for an existing food or drink business, the new proprietor must complete an Application for Registration.
Apply for a food or drink business registration
Food and drink business registration fees
Category 1 (Class 1)
Nursing homes or aged care centres, child care centres, hospitals, special accommodation, meals on wheels.
The cost is $684.00 plus $21.00 for each staff member (in excess of 5 staff).
Category 2 (Class 2)
Food manufacturers of high risk foods, supermarkets, hotels, food kitchens, caterers, restaurants, bakery, cake sales, cafes, takeaways, delicatessens, food canteens high risk, juice bars, function centres, bed and breakfast high risk, mobile food vehicles high risk, sporting clubs high risk, low-risk manufactured food with allergen-free claim.
The cost is $674.00 plus $21.00 for each staff member (in excess of 5 staff).
Category 3 (Class 3)
Fruit and vegetable sales, convenience stores, ice cream sales, food canteens low risk, food manufacturers low risk, mixed businesses, cake decorators, sporting clubs low risk, kiosks, health food stores, mobile food vehicles low risk, bed and breakfast low risk.
The cost is $452.00 plus $21.00 for each staff member (in excess of 5 staff).
Category 3A (Class 3A)
Food made using a hot-fill process such as chutney, relish, salsa, tomato sauce or any other similar food from a home or temporary premises. Handling of potentially hazardous foods to guests for immediate consumption at an accommodation getaway premises.
The cost is $452.00 plus $21.00 for each staff member (in excess of 5 staff).
Category 4 (Class 4)
Low risk foods e.g. pre-packaged items at newsagents and pharmacies, bottle shops, uncut fruit and vegetables at farmers markets or by greengrocers (retail or wholesale), wine tastings (with cheese), shops and stalls with packaged cakes (excluding cream cakes), bottled jams or honey, education and care services (family day care) serving children low risk food including cut fruit.
No charge, Apply here for notification
Category 5
Temporary food premises for one off promotional, festival and other events not otherwise covered, packaged food >2M2 and/or requiring food safety plans, school canteens.
The cost is $208.60.
Category 6
Temporary food premises for festivals and other community events not otherwise covered.
The cost is $117.15.
Late fees
Please note a 50% late fee applies to all the above registration fees. The list of fees and charges are also subject to change.
Operating a mobile and temporary food business
If you have a mobile or temporary food business, such as a food van, which is garaged in the Bayside City Council or a food stall at a venue or event, you will need to be registered under the Food Act 1984 to operate.
You can apply to register your temporary/mobile business through Foodtrader. This is a state-wide registration and notification scheme for temporary and mobile food premises.
Your application will be processed after an inspection and approval of the mobile food vehicle fit out or the setup of your temporary stall.
Some information to help facilitate this are provided below:
After the above verification process is completed, if applicable a fee will be generated to the Foodtrader registration. Contact the Environmental Health Department 9599 4417 for the current fee schedule and whether it applies to you.
After payment is received a certificate of registration will be issued as the final approval and your registration will be deemed current on Foodtrader.
Once you are registered on Foodtrader you can apply for a Statement of Trade (SOT) which allows you to trade throughout Victoria. The SOT will list when and where you intend to trade in the State of Victoria eg A farmers market out of the municipality or a local school fete. This is an obligatory requirement before attending any event and is approved by the Council where the event is held.
Other permissions you require prior to submitting a SOT
You will require approval, or be invited, to an event by the event organiser eg to attend a Farmers markets. To operate from public land you will require the approval of the relevant Council. A submitted and approved SOT does not provide permission to be at the event or the location without the relevant approvals.
As an example Bayside City Council has a limited number of foreshore sites that are tendered for, and used by the successful mobile food vendors. These sites and any other sites along the foreshore cannot be used by other mobile food vendors.
Enquiries about the tendered foreshore sites can be made by emailing leasing@bayside.vic.gov.au
Bayside Council Community Events can be found here.
Food safety program and record sheets
The Food Act requires food businesses to implement a food safety program, this document must remain at your premises.
A food safety program is a document that shows what steps you and your business are taking to ensure that the food you sell is safe.
Everyone who works in a food business – including the proprietor – is responsible for the delivery of safe food to the customer.
Class 3 food premises should use a food safety guide and are required to maintain Class 3 minimum records.
Templates and record sheets
To successfully implement and run your food safety program, you may use:
To learn how to use the templates, or to find them in different languages, visit Health Vic.
For further information or clarification, contact us on 9599 4417.
Food safety in the community
Urgent food recalls
In the event of a urgent food recall, our Environmental Health Officers will receive notification from the Department of Health advising the nature of the urgent recall and any action to be taken.
Our Environmental Health Officers will:
- actively contact and/or check stores where the product is likely to be stored
- ensure stock has been removed to an area clearly designated for recalled goods, and
- seize stock if necessary or as requested.
To find out about current food recalls, visit the Food Standards website.
Food allergens and intolerances
Food allergens and intolerances are increasing in Australia, affecting 1 in every 5 people. Find out more with our fact sheet.
Community group food fundraising information
For information to plan your temporary food event or community group fundraiser please see the community group fundraisers website.
Planning a cake stalls or sausage sizzles?
For information about keeping food safe at your cake stall or sausage sizzle, please go to the Health Vic website.
Free online food handler program - DoFoodSafely
A free online learning program to support the safe food handling in commercial food settings is available on the Department of Health website.