Under the Food Act 2006 most food businesses need a licence from their local Council. You will need to apply for a food business licence when you are:
- starting a new food business
- taking over an existing food business
The following will be considered before a food business licence is approved:
- the applicant is a suitable person to hold a licence
- the premises from which the food business is to be carried on is suitable
- a food safety program is accredited (only when required)
Who needs a food business licence?
You need to apply for a food business licence with Council when your business:
- manufactures food (including making food by combining ingredients and packaging for resale at another location)
- sells unpackaged food by retail, for example:
- a café, restaurant or bar
- a takeaway food shop
- is a non-profit organisation and sells:
- on at least 12 days each financial year
- meals prepared by your organisation at a particular place
Who does not need a food business licence?
If your food business meets one or more of the following, you do not need a food business licence:
- the production of primary produce under an accreditation issued under the Food Production (Safety) Act 2000, part 5 (for example the Meat Scheme, Seafood Scheme, Dairy Scheme and Egg Scheme). The regulation of this Act is the responsibility of Safe Food Production Queensland.
- the sale of unpackaged snack food (e.g. cakes and biscuits without cream or custard, confectionary, potato chips, nuts)
- the sale of whole fruit or vegetables
- the sale of seeds, spices, dried herbs, tea leaves, coffee beans or ground coffee (not including manufacturing)
- the grinding of coffee beans
- the sale of drinks (other than fruit or vegetable juice processed at the place of sale) including, for example, tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
- the sale of ice including flavoured ice
- the sale of food by a non-profit organisation that meets the exemption criteria