Food

Councils Environmental Health Officers monitor and regulate commercial food preparation within the Shire. Unregulated food handling and storage is a potential risk to the public's health and safety; therefore regulations have been put in place for the safety and hygiene of food for all customers. If you are concerned about poor food handling or food borne illness, refer to the relevant section below for more information.

If you wish to establish a permanent, mobile or temporary food business, these premises may need to be licenced and/or approved by Council. For further information click on the Licencing and Starting a food business tab below.

Activities that do not require a licence still carry an obligation to ensure that food for sale is safe and suitable. Food safety is also important at home with many cases of food borne illness resulting from poor food handling in the home. To enhance your knowledge of food safety and hygiene, you may wish to undertake the free online training available on the food safety training tab or read the many fact sheets available on this page.

Licencing

Who needs a licence?

If you wish to establish a fixed, mobile or temporary food business, you may require a Food Business licence from Council.

For further information about when a Food Business licence is required visit:

Licensable food businesses

License application forms are available on Council’s Forms page.

Associated license fees are listed on Council’s Fees and Charges page.

Activities that do not require a Licence still carry an obligation to ensure that food for sale is safe and suitable. For further information about how to comply with this obligation visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/food-pantry or undertake free food safety training through the tab below.

Non-profit organisations

Non-profit organisations may have an exemption from licensing under the Food Act 2006 (the Act). However, even exempt non-profit organisations still have an obligation to comply with other provisions of the Act so that food provided is safe and suitable for human consumption. This includes all food handlers having appropriate skills and knowledge.

For further information about food safety obligations for non-profit organisations visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/food-pantry/starting-a-food-business/non-profit-organisations/non-profit

Council offers a free online training program on their website. I'm Alert training is simple to use and can assist volunteers with gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure safe food. Click on the online training tab for more information.

Starting a food business

There are a number of matters to consider when starting a food business in addition to licensing. The fact sheets below provide an overview of these matters.

Starting a food business

Starting a home based food business

Starting a mobile food business

Starting a water carrier business

Food safety training

Online food safety training

All food businesses have obligations to ensure staff have appropriate skills and knowledge. The Banana Shire is assisting food businesses to meet these obligations by providing free access to online training.

Two free online food safety training options are listed below which will assist food handlers in developing the required skills and knowledge to ensure food is handled in a safe and hygienic manner.

I’m Alert

This program is easy to follow, includes a presentation as well as interactive quizzes. A training acknowledgement form can be printed upon completion and be kept as part of your staff records.

Food Handlers Skills and Knowledge

This program is provided by the Department of Health Victoria and supported by Queensland Health. It involves reading through various topics and completing an assessment quiz. On completion a certificate is awarded.

Food Safety Supervisors

Every licensed food business is required to have a readily available food safety supervisor to add an on-site level of protection for day-to-day food safety. The food safety supervisor for most business categories is required to have obtained a food safety certificate from a registered training organisation at least every 5 years.

Please note that the above free online training does not meet the training requirements for a food safety supervisor.

Please visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/food-pantry/starting-a-food-business/skills-and-knowledge/food-safety-supervisors for further details about food safety supervisor training requirements.

Fact Sheets

If you have a concern about food handling or food borne illness

Local government shares responsibility for food safety with various Queensland Government agencies.

To report a food safety issue visit Food safety for consumers or contact Council's Environmental Health Officers on (07) 4992 9500.

More information about food borne illness is available on the Queensland Health The Food Pantry website.