Food businesses

If you have a food business in Eurobodalla, you'll need to register your business with Council. This will help us to ensure you sell safe and suitable food and show you can manage any food safety risks.

To notify us of your business or change your details, complete our form:

• Notification of Food Business (1.1 MB)
• Submit your application by:
  • email: Council
    or
  • post: Public and Environmental Health Team
    Eurobodalla Shire Council,
    PO Box 99 Moruya NSW 2537.

If you are building, altering or renovating a food premises, you must meet Australian Standard AS4674-2004: Design Construction and Fitout of a Food Premise to get Council approval.

• Find out what's involved in food premises approval requirements

Before you start any building work on your food business, check with Council to find out if you need to lodge a Development Application (DA).

You must also comply with Food Standards Code 3.2.3 - Food Premises and Equipment before you can operate your business.

If you are starting a home-based food business, you'll need to notify Council before you can operate. This will help ensure you maintain your responsibility to sell safe and suitable food:

• Notification of Food Business (1.1 MB)

Home-based businesses use their home to handle food for sale. They include:

• preparing food for sale at local markets or school canteens in a home kitchen
• bed and breakfast and farm home-stay accommodation
• home-based childcare businesses that provide food
• home-based catering businesses.

You may need to appoint a Food Safety Supervisor if your home-based food business sells or processes:

• ready-to-eat food
• potentially hazardous food that requires temperature control
• food that is not sold in the supplier’s original packaging.

The fit-out and design of your home-based food business may be exempt from some parts of the Food Standards Code (Chapter 3). We may inspect your food preparation/storage facilities before we can approve an exemption. We may also carry out regular inspections of your premises to ensure the health and safety of the community.

You'll find the allowances made for home-based food businesses in Appendix 10 of the Guide to the Food Safety Standards.

More information

• Home-based food businesses
• Proposed food premises approval requirements

Food Safety Supervisors

Food Safety Supervisors (FSS) oversee day to day food handling operations and ensure risks are managed.

The role of an FSS is to minimise the risk of customers becoming ill from food-borne illnesses due to incorrect handling and preparation of food.

An FSS must hold a current (less than five years old) FSS Certificate. You can find out how to comply with Food Safety Supervisor requirements in the 'FSS Guideline'.

The Food Act 2003 requires certain food businesses in the hospitality and retail food service sector to have at least one trained FSS for each premises. This applies to businesses serving food that is:

• potentially hazardous (needs temperature control)
• ready to eat
• not sold or served in its original packaging.

These businesses include:

• takeaway outlets
• cafes
• restaurants
• caterers
• bakeries
• hotels, pubs, and clubs
• mobile food vendors and temporary market stalls.

From 8 December 2024, these businesses also include:

• supermarkets
• delicatessens
• greengrocers
• school canteens
• children's services that provide meals, including out of school hours care
• correctional centres
• coffee vendors that sell unpackaged, potentially hazardous, ready to eat food
• boarding schools

You must keep a copy of the FSS Certificate at your food premises at all times, and you'll be asked to show the certificate during routine inspections. Failure to meet this requirement can result in a fine.

Food safety training

Food Handler Basics

The Food Authority offers a free, non-accredited, online training course: 'Food Handler Basics'. The course covers the basic knowledge requirements for food handlers.

You do not need to carry out this training, however it is one way your business can meet its obligations under the Food Standards Code.

• Find out which food safety management tools apply to your business

Food Safety Supervisors (FSS) program

The NSW FSS program helps businesses meet their obligations under the Food Standards Code, Food Act 2003 and Food Regulation 2015.

The Food Authority's website provides information about the program, FSS requirements, and approved training providers:

• Find out how you can do FSS training
• FFS approved training providers

Our Food Surveillance Officer will carry out regular inspections of your food premises as part of our Food Inspection Program. These inspections will help to safeguard our community's health, and ensure you are complying with the Food Standards Code - 3.2.2, 3.2.2A, 3.2.3, Food Act 2003 and Food Regulation 2015.

We will inspect and assess:

• receiving methods
• storing; processing
• display/serving
• packaging
• health and hygiene knowledge of food handlers
• premises hygiene and maintenance
• temperature measuring and maintenance records.

We will inspect your premises every six months to one year, depending on the risk rating of your business. We determine this rating by:

• the type of food you're selling
• your business' food safety record
• the preparation activities you're carrying out on the premises.

Inspection fees are listed under 'Food Safety Program' of our fees and charges.

Our Food Inspection Program provides an opportunity for food businesses to reduce their inspection frequency.

You can learn more about the program in our policy:

• Council's Food Inspection Policy (269.3 KB)

Eurobodalla Shire food retailers can show their customers that they are following food hygiene and safety requirements. The aim of this state-wide program is to reward businesses for their efforts in maintaining excellent food handling practices.

Our officers inspect businesses and rate their hygiene and food safety standards in line with the Food Standards Code as:

• excellent (five stars)
• very good (four stars)
• good (three stars).

The rating considers:

• food temperature control
• food prepared in advance of service
• food handler hygiene
• cleaning and sanitisation
• pest control.

Scores on Doors provides businesses with an incentive to maintain high levels of food safety.

• NSW Government Food Authority: Scores on Doors Program

We do not consider mobile food vans to be temporary food stalls, and you must apply for approval to operate.

Operating a food stall at the local markets or other event from a temporary structure or vehicle is known as a 'temporary food business'. Other event examples include fairs, festivals and shows. This type of food business:

• must follow the Food Authority's Guidelines for Food Businesses at Temporary Events
• can be inspected by our Food Surveillance Officer during the event
• must register their business with us.

To notify us of your business or to change your details, complete our Notification of Food Business Form:

• Notification of Food Business (1.1 MB)
• Submit your application by:
  • email: Council
    or
  • post: Public and Environmental Health Team
    Eurobodalla Shire Council,
    PO Box 99 Moruya NSW 2537

You may also need other permits or licences for your temporary event.

More information

• Food Authority: Markets and temporary events
• Food Authority: Keeping food safe - charities, groups and volunteers

If you have a mobile food vending business, you need to get approval from Council under Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993. You will also need to comply with the:

• Street Activities Code of Practice (494.2 KB)
• NSW Food Authority: Guidelines for Mobile Food Vending Vehicles.

How to apply for approval

You can apply for Council approval by completing the application:

• Form: Mobile Food Vendor Application (973.3 KB)
• Return your application by:
• post: Eurobodalla Shire Council
  PO Box 99, Moruya NSW 2537
• email: Council's Public and Environmental Health Team
• You'll need to pay the application and inspection fee outlined in our fees and charges.
• We will carry out an inspection of your vehicle each year, as a minimum.