Did You Know - Food Safety

Published on 23 January 2026

All businesses and community groups that sell food to the public are required to register with their local Council under The Food Act.  Registrations remain in place for a 12-month period and are renewed each year.  As part of the registration process, Council undertakes inspections to monitor ongoing compliance with The Food Act and The Food Standard Code.  Within Council, the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) is responsible for carrying out functions under The Food Act.

The type of food handling activities carried out will determine which class of registration is required.  For example, a cafe that prepares and sells ready to eat high risk foods, is a class 2 food premises.  Whereas, an accommodation facility, such as a motel, that prepares a cooked breakfast for guests only, is a class 3A food premises.  Council determines each businesses registration class by asking a series of questions relating to food handling activities.

People who prepare food in their home kitchen, to sell to the public, are also required to register as a food premises under The Food Act.  To determine if a home kitchen is suitable for a food premises registration, an inspection of the home kitchen is carried out by Council's EHO.

Failure to register a food business with Council may result in Council taking further action under The Food Act.  This could be an infringement notice (fine) or court proceedings.

For more information relating to food premises registration with Council, please visit:

Food Businesses - YSC website.

Additional information is also available via:

Starting A Food Business - Vic Gov Health website.

Alternatively, please contact Council's EHO via phone on #03 5398 0100 or email info@yarriambiack.vic.gov.au