You will require this registration / notification if you intend to prepare, handle or sell food from a mobile or temporary food premises in any commercial, charitable or community circumstance, including on a one-off basis.
Food includes any substance, thing, ingredient, additive, chewing gum, product or drink intended for human consumption (whether it is live, raw, prepared or partly prepared but excluding a therapeutic good) and may also include live animals and plants.
Mobile food premises means a food premises which is a vehicle; a vehicle means any means of transport, whether self-propelled or not, and whether used on land, sea or in the air but does not include a food transport vehicle. Examples include a van, trailer or cart.
There are four classes of food premises. Different food safety requirements apply to each class based on the food safety risks of its highest risk food handling activity. A mobile food premises will be either class 2, class 3 or class 4. Class 2 and 3 premises must be registered. Class 4 premises must be notified. Notification is for premises with the lowest risk food handling, and is once-off, with no fee payable.
A Statewide single registration / notification system now applies to mobile food premises. Food businesses must register or notify their mobile food premises with their principal council. Their principal council will usually be the council for the district where the business prepares or stores food to be sold from the mobile food premises, or, if food is not usually prepared or stored beforehand, the district where the vehicle is mainly garaged.
The new single registration system means that when you register or notify your mobile food premises with your principal council, it applies across Victoria. You can operate these premises in any other council district in Victoria, without having to register again. You will just need to let the councils of those other districts know about when and where you intend to operate. You do this by lodging a statement of trade with each council, and sending a copy to your principal council. There is no fee for lodging a statement of trade. For more information about the single registration system, you can visit the Department of Health website.
You can register / notify your mobile food premises in FoodTrader. FoodTrader is an online system for the Statewide registration and notification of temporary and mobile food premises, food vending machines and water transport vehicles. Associated permanent or fixed premises can also be registered or notified in this online system.
