Starting a Food Business

Food businesses in Victoria are registered as a certain Class type with their local Council depending on the risk to public health. You will be registered as a Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 3A, or a Class 4 business.

You can find further information on the different class types on the Department of Health’s website.

Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3A businesses need a food handler to be formally trained and have Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) qualifications. When you apply for a food registration, you’ll be required to submit a FSS certificate to us. For further information, see the Department of Health’s website on Food Safety Supervisor.

If you are unsure of what class you fall under, or whether you need a Food Safety Supervisor, contact our Public and Environmental Health team on 9742 0738 or ehadmin@wyndham.vic.gov.au

Home-based kitchens and food businesses are required to comply with the same standards as a commercial business. You can find our  Home-Based Food Business Guidelines here for your reference. Some kitchens will be required to install additional sinks or equipment to ensure that they comply with the construction requirements and regulations.

Some home-based kitchens need additional permits to their Food Act 1984 application. Contact our Small Business Support Officer on 8734 4579 or mail@wyndham.vic.gov.au who can guide you through any Town Planning or Building permits you may need.

Thinking about buying a food business?

If you are thinking about purchasing an existing food business, you can request an inspection of the premises prior to purchasing the business. 

This can be done by completing the Request for Inspection form below.  The completed form can be emailed to mail@wyndham.vic.gov.au or submitted in person or via mail to Wyndham City Council.

An Environmental Health Officer will arrange an inspection of the premises once the completed form and applicable fees have been paid.

Download Request for Inspection Form

Already purchased a food business?

If you have already purchased an existing food business, you must apply for a Food Act 1984 Registration. 

This can be completed online or you can download and complete the Business Approvals Application form.  The completed form can be emailed to mail@wyndham.vic.gov.au or submitted in person or via mail to Wyndham City Council.  Any applicable fees must also be paid.

You can only commence operation once the Food Act 1984 registration has been granted by an Environmental Health Officer. 

Note:  It is an offence to operate a food business without a Food Act 1984 registration.

Starting a food business 

Download: Food Premises Application Form

If you are selling or closing a food business, you will no longer be able to transfer your existing registration to a new owner. You are required to complete the form Apply to close a food business.

The completed form can be emailed to mail@wyndham.vic.gov.au or submitted in person or via mail to Wyndham City Council.

Once the form has been received Council will review your registration and issue a refund if applicable. If you are selling the business, the new owner will be responsible to register the business with Wyndham City Council by submitting a Business Approvals Application Form.

Apply to close a food business

Foodtrader s a state-wide online system for the registration or notification of temporary and mobile food premises, vending machines and water transport vehicles under the Food Act 1984.

You can use FoodTrader to register your business or community group’s premises including:

• Temporary food premises - temporary sites or stalls where food is sold. This includes stalls and tents at school fetes, markets, festivals, and other short term events including sausage sizzles.
• Mobile food premises - vehicles such as vans, trailers or carts from which food is sold.
• Vending Machines – Food Vending Machines information.
• Water Transport Vehicles – Any private business operating Water Transport Vehicles for delivering water intended for human consumption, must register those vehicles using FoodTrader.  Please refer to the Department of Health website for more information..

To operate a temporary or mobile food premises in Victoria, you must:

1. Check if you need a Planning and/or Building Permit:

• If you plan to store any equipment or other items related to the premises or intend on undertaking food handling activities, at a residential property, contact our Planning and Building departments to enquire about necessary permits.
• You must not begin any work until you have obtained the necessary permits.

If a Planning or Building Permit is required, do not commence any work on the food premises until you have received the required permits.

2.  Check your home related activities:

• If you intend to handle food at home such as pre-cutting ingredients, marinating meat, or storing high risk foods, you must register your home kitchen and obtain a Food Act 1984 registration from our Public and Environmental Health Unit.

3. Register or notify your temporary and/or mobile food premises.

• To operate anywhere in Victoria, you must register (Class 1, 2 and 3 food premises) or notify (Class 4 premises only) your temporary and/or mobile food premises with your principal council, using the FoodTrader platform.

To determine your principal council, consider the following criteria:

1. If your business prepares or stores food to be sold from a van, stall, or vending machine, your principal council is the one where these activities take place.
2. If your business does not usually prepare or store food beforehand, but you store equipment for a stall or garage your food van or water transport vehicle, your principal council is the district where the equipment is usually stored.
3. If neither of the above scenarios apply, your principal council is the one where your usual business address is located.
4. If none of the above are in Victoria, your principal council is the one in which the food van, water transport vehicle, stall, or vending machines will first operate in Victoria.

Once you submit your application form via FoodTrader, it will be received by Public and Environmental Health Unit, and a registration fee (if applicable) will be generated.  You can pay this fee by phone, cheque, or in person at the Wyndham Council Civic Centre.  Please provide your FoodTrader reference number, when paying the fee.

If applicable, an inspection of your premises may be required to ensure the food premises complies with the requirements of the Food Act 1984 and Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code.  

Once your temporary and/or mobile premises has been approved, your Food Act 1984 registration certificate will be emailed to you via FoodTrader.

If your proprietor contact details have changed, please complete our online form.

A food business is required to have one Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) who has a formal qualification within the previous 5 years, FSS will require retraining every 5 years. 

In addition all staff that handle food in your business must be trained in safe food handling.  Your FSS can train your staff, or you can have staff complete online training.

Food Safety Programs are required if you are conducting a high risk activity such as ready to eat raw meats, Sous Vide or sushi.   

Further information on Food Safety Programs templates and Food Safety training can be found here:

• Food Safety Requirements (English)
• Food Safety Requirements (Dari)
• Food Safety Requirements (Persian)
• Food Safety Requirements (Chinese)
• Food Safety Requirements (Vietnamese)