Good hygiene and food safety practices can prevent food poisoning and other food borne illnesses. The Town's Environmental Health Officers carry out routine food safety and hygiene assessments of all businesses preparing food for sale, including food vehicles and food stall operators.
Assessments are carried out to measure compliance of the food business with the requirements of the Food Act 2008 and the Food Standards Code. Inspections examine the structure of the premises and the practices and processes carried out by food business operators and their food handlers when storing, preparing and serving food.
Other strategies in place to ensure that the food sold within the Town is safe include:
- Sampling of locally produced foods and comparison to microbial and chemical food standards.
- Investigating complaints about food and food handling practices.
- Educating food businesses on safe practices.
Remember: Food safety is your business!
If you want to open a new food business within the Town you must obtain all the relevant department approvals (planning, building and health). Food businesses are required to comply with the Food Act 2008, Food Regulations 2009 and the Food Standards Code, specifically the Food Safety Standards Chapter 3. It is highly recommended that you make an appointment to seek advice from an Environmental Health Officer before submitting any applications to the Town.
You should first speak to Planning Services to check the approved use of the premises is compliant with the type of business you want to operate. For more information please visit the Planning page. Where there are any structural installations or alterations you will need a building permit. You are advised to speak with Building Services team to check whether a building permit is required. For more information please visit the Building page. You can call 9311 8111 to speak to a planning or building officer.
You will need to submit a Food Business Registration/Notification Application form below to the Town's Environmental Health Services in order to register the business under the Food Act 2008. Please carefully read the information required to be submitted on the form and attach all relevant documentation to avoid unnecessary delays.
Please note that submission of a registration application does not grant automatic approval. The business will need to be assessed and approved before the business can open for trade. It is illegal to operate an unregistered food business.
Temporary food business operators (e.g. food vehicles, trailers and stalls) will need to submit plans of their vehicle with their registration application, and preferably also photos. Food vehicles are classed as a 'premises' under the Food Act, and are required to comply with the Food Safety Standards. Food stalls may be exempt from complying with some of those standards. Refer to the Temporary Food Business Requirements for Events and Food Stall Site Plan example documents below for guidance on what may be required.
Refer to the below Food Business - Guidelines for the Design, Construction & Operation
and Safe Food Australia for further compliance information.
You will be issued a Food Act registration certificate once your food business is approved. Other local governments may require proof of this certificate (especially in the case of food vehicle and food stall operators at events in other jurisdictions).
Please note that the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 prohibits smoking in outdoor eating areas (unless part of a liquor licensed premises where specific provisions apply). This includes smoking of shisha. For more information on smoking restrictions refer to the Department of Health website and Shisha Fact Sheet(PDF, 838KB).
To apply please call Customer Service on 9311 8111 and ask to speak to an Environmental Health Officer or email admin@vicpark.wa.gov.au.
If you want to make alterations to an existing food business you are advised to speak to an Environmental Health Officer for advice, to ensure any work complies with the Food Safety Standards Chapter 3 adopted under the Food Act 2008. You may be required to submit plans for approval direct to the health team or require planning approval or a building permit. Refer to the Food Business - Guidelines for the Design, Construction & Operation and Safe Food Australia for further compliance information.
To apply please call Customer Service on 9311 8111 and ask to speak to an Environmental Health Officer or email admin@vicpark.wa.gov.au.
If you are buying a food business, you must notify the Town of the new owner details and any changes to the food business activities by submitting a Food Business Registration/Notification Application form. Should you wish to obtain information on a food business you are looking to purchase, such as outstanding fees or whether there are any health notices, you must submit the below Settlement Enquiry form, usually completed by your settlement agent. Please note that the current owner must sign the form to allow the release of information to you.
Food vehicles will need to be registered where they are predominantly garaged overnight. Similarly, food stall operators will have their food business registered to either where they store their equipment or where they store and prepare food (e.g. a commercial kitchen). Food stall and food vehicle operators may be permitted to store food products at home such as in a separate refrigerator or freezer in their garage.
For more information, refer to the New Food Businesses section on this page.
To apply please call Customer Service on 9311 8111 and ask to speak to an Environmental Health Officer or email admin@vicpark.wa.gov.au.
The Town of Victoria Park has cut the red tape and shown commitment to supporting local businesses, with Council approving Free Trade Areas outside shop fronts within the Town. The Free Trade Area will see former application and annual alfresco dining fees abolished and replaced with a one-off, cost-neutral payment to cover the cost of installing pavement discs.
If you have an established or new food business and wish to set-up a Free Trade Area on Council land, please visit our Free Trade Area page for further information.
The Food Act 2008 permits a food business to prepare of foods and conduct food activities of a low-risk nature in residential premises. Examples of low-risk food activities are
- cupcakes and cakes/cake decorating
- preserves
- biscuits
- baked goods
- food for bed and breakfasts
- food for community or charitable purposes.
The above must not have any potentially hazardous foods such as dairy products like custard and cream. Other potentially hazardous foods such as meats, dairy and prepared salads are not permitted to be prepared at home, as residential premises do not comply with the Food Safety Standards Chapter 3.
You will be required to submit a Food Business Registration/Notification Application form. Planning approval may also be required.
For further information refer to the Residential Food Preparation Information sheet which can be downloaded below.
To apply please call Customer Service on 9311 8111 and ask to speak to an Environmental Health Officer or email admin@vicpark.wa.gov.au.
Food business must ensure their food handling staff have the adequate skills and knowledge to undertake work in a safe environment to prevent food poisoning outbreaks. This is a requirement under the Food Safety Standards. This includes knowledge on:
- Correct hand washing and drying practices.
- Cross-contamination of raw and cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
- Temperature control and correct use of probe thermometers.
- Correct storage of all food products including potentially hazardous foods.
- The difference between cleaning and sanitising food contact surfaces.
- The importance of regular and thorough cleaning of the premises including pest-control.
Please find some brochures below on the above information and you can also refer to several Food Safety Standards Resources published by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
All food handlers are required to have demonstrated food safety skills and knowledge under the Food Act 2008. If food handling staff have not completed any food safety training, the Town offers free online food safety training called FoodSafe (this has replaced I'm Alert). Users who complete the course will be able to download a certificate of completion for their records.
To access this please visit the FoodSafe website. Add the product to the cart and enter "FSVICTO351" to apply the free code (normally $35).
You can preview the course with the video below.
If you have any technical difficulties please contact Executive Officer, Environmental Health Australia at wa@eh.org.au.