You will require this registration / notification if you intend to operate a temporary food premises, including on a one-off basis. This registration / notification is to ensure a safe standard of food handling, preparation and selling is maintained for the public health.
A mobile food premises includes any form of vehicle or mobile food stall that is used for the preparation or sale of food, but does not include vehicles whose sole purpose is for the transport of food.
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 (required registration)
- class 3 (requires registration)
- class 4 (requires notification).
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 the principal council. The 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 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 be required to notify any new council you operate within, though there is no fee for this notification. 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, an online system for the State-wide 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.
