Council is responsible for registering and inspecting a wide range of food businesses that operate in the Hindmarsh shire.
If you are considering starting a food business e.g. home based kitchen/business or café, we recommend you contact Environmental Health (details below) to discuss your registration requirements.
Council recommends any new businesses undergo a ‘Plans Approval Process’. This is where a council officer comes to your premises (by appointment) and takes you through a step-by-step approval process to assist you to meet relevant standards for design and construction of your premises e.g. recommended basins, benchtops, etc. Proposed business owners are then required to submit the layout of the plans including location of all fixtures, equipment and furniture. (Please Note: This is not a legislative requirement but highly recommended to avoid any non-compliance later on).
If you design and construct a food premise without going through the Plans Approval Process, registration may not be granted (where the construction does not meet the relevant standards).
For more information, please contact Environmental Health on (03) 5391 4444 or email eho@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au.
Food businesses are classified depending on the type of food sold. The category each business falls into determines the level of regulation and requirements imposed on the business. Below are each of the categories:
Class 1 Premises
Businesses that predominantly handle potentially hazardous food that is served to vulnerable groups. Examples include hospitals, aged care facilities and childcare centres. The business requires a food safety program to be written specifically for the business and a food safety supervisor for the site.
Class 2 Premises
Businesses whose main activity is handling unpackaged potentially hazardous foods which need correct temperature control to keep them safe. Examples include restaurants, caterers, cafes and most manufacturers. The business may require a standard food safety program to be maintained and a food safety supervisor for the site.
Class 3 Premises
Businesses whose main activity involves the handling or sale of unpackaged low-risk foods or pre-packaged potentially hazardous foods not commonly associated with food poisoning. Examples include milk bars, convenience stores, wholesalers and water carters. The business requires only minimum records to be kept.
Class 4 Premises
Businesses that pose a low risk to public health. Generally, this includes the sale of pre-packaged shelf-stable foods. Examples include uncut fruit and vegetables, bottle shops, simple sausage sizzles. The business does not generally require records to be kept, these businesses are encouraged to be registered on the statewide Streatrader system.
Under the Food Act 1984 (VIC), all food business owners (and community groups who sell food) are legally responsible to ensure food sold or prepared for sale is safe to eat.
Hindmarsh Shire Council is responsible for protecting the health of the community. All food businesses are required to be registered with their local Council.
The Food Act 1984 (VIC) also requires food premises to comply with the Food Standards Code Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
It is a criminal offence under the Food Act to handle or sell food that does not comply with any requirement set out in the Code. The Food Act also includes offences involving the handling or sale of unsafe or unsuitable food and false descriptions of food. It is also an offence to sell food that is damaged, has deteriorated or perished, is adulterated, or unfit for human consumption. More information about this can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services website here: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/food-safety/food-businesses/food-standards-code.
This means that it is not only the business owner or proprietor who is responsible for food safety in the business, all staff that handle and prepare food for sale to consumers are responsible for food safety.
Without compromising food safety, the Act is designed to impose only reasonable compliance costs on businesses and community groups that sell food. It does this through matching the level of regulation to the level of risk of different food business activities.
Some of the activities that Environmental Health Officers undertake to monitor the safety of food prepared and sold in Hindmarsh Shire include –
Streatrader is the online system used to manage the statewide registration of temporary and mobile food (temporary food premises). Implemented in July 2011, Streatrader is a recognised system to assist –
Any Notifications and Statements of Trade must be completed and lodged online through Streatrader at https://streatrader.health.vic.gov.au/
Who uses Streatrader?
Create your login for Streatrader
Create a Streatrader login by visiting Streatrader at https://streatrader.health.vic.gov.au/
Once you have received your Username and Password details you can then log into Streatrader.
If there is an existing business registration, an application must be made to Council to transfer the registration to the new owner of the business. You can get information on the current condition of the business and any issues that have been identified through inspections by an Environmental Health Officer. Consent from the existing owner must be obtained before Council can release information. When settlement of a business purchase is complete, the completed transfer of registration form and relevant fee must be submitted to Council. Failure to do so can result in penalties.
Contact Environmental Health on (03) 5391 4444 to obtain the relevant forms or if you have any further enquiries, you can email eho@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au.
Council is responsible for registering and inspecting a wide range of businesses that operate in Hindmarsh Shire. Examples include:
Health Businesses
Accommodation Businesses
Contact Environmental Health to discuss registration requirements. New premises require a plans approval application (below) as part of the registration process. If you design and construct a business without Council approval, registration may not be granted.
Hindmarsh has a number or registered retailers, outdoor smoking areas and smoke-free dining areas. The control of tobacco and related products is under the Tobacco Act 1987 (Vic) and is controlled and enforced by Council.
Council's Environmental Health officers regularly conduct visits to tobacco retailers to ensure they are aware of and comply with regulations on the sale of tobacco including
The sale of tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years of age is illegal and incurs heavy penalties. If a member of the public witnesses a sale to persons under the age of 18, contact Environmental Health.
Council regularly conducts test purchasing where a test purchaser under the age of 18 is engaged to buy cigarettes from tobacco retail outlets within the Shire. Offenders can be served infringements notices or taken to court and risk having their right to sell tobacco revoked.
If you wish to start selling tobacco or have enquiries about your responsibilities with regards to selling tobacco, contact Environmental Health or view the Department of Health website to obtain the following information: