Food Premises Registration and Food Safety

If you are opening, purchasing or selling a food premises or if you plan to serve food as part of your accommodation premises, there are a number of permits you need to apply for before you can open your premises including:

If you are planning to start a new commercial food premises, please read our Structural Guidelines for Setting up a Commercial Food Premises. This is a great step-by-step guide to help walk you through the process.

A number of additional documents you must read before becoming registered include:

Once you have read this information and are ready to proceed, please submit:

This can be emailed to health.services@knox.vic.gov.au or posted to 511 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South 3152.

Once plans approval has been obtained by Council’s Health Compliance Department, you may begin works (if required). As you near completion of your works or are ready to commence trading, you must contact Council’s Health Compliance Department to arrange a final inspection of your premises before you begin trading. Upon successful completion of the final inspection, an Application for Registration will be given to you. Payment will include an establishment fee and a registration fee.

Please note, you will need to contact the following authorities to find out about all of the different laws and requirements that may apply:

If you are planning to start a new home-based food premises, please read our Guidelines for Setting up a Home-Based Food Premises. This is a great step-by-step guide to help walk you through the process.

A number of additional documents you must read before becoming registered include:

Once you are ready to proceed, please submit:

This can be lodged at health.services@knox.vic.gov.au or posted to 511 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South 3152.

Once plans approval has been obtained by Council’s Health Compliance Department, you may begin works (if required). As you near completion of your works or are ready to commence trading, you must contact Council’s Health Compliance Department to arrange a final inspection of your premises before you begin trading. Upon successful completion of the final inspection, an Application for Registration will be given to you. Payment will include an establishment fee and a registration fee.

Please note, you will need to contact the following authorities to find out about all of the different laws and requirements that may apply:

If you are purchasing a food premises, you will need to complete An Application to Transfer a Food Premises.

If you wish to request an inspection of a food premises prior to purchasing it, you can submit an Application for Premises Enquiry.

Both of these forms need to be completed by both the existing proprietor and new proprietor/purchaser.

If you have any questions regarding these forms, please contact Council's Health Compliance team on 9298 8000 or at health.services@knox.vic.gov.au.

The State Government now requires community groups and operators of temporary or mobile food businesses to apply online for their compliance with the Food Act.

Streatrader is the online system for businesses and community groups to register and notify their temporary and mobile food premises with a Victorian council.

To get started on Streatrader, please follow these steps:
1.Go to the Streatrader website, select ‘log in' and then sign on for a free Business Victoria Account. Once you have got your account, use this username and password to access Streatrader.
2.Once these details are accepted, you will automatically enter the Streatrader website.
3.Complete your forms (Streatrader will guide you through the process)
4.Hit the lodge button.

Once you lodge your registration application online, your principal council will contact you directly regarding any requirements and fees. Your submission will be assessed, to ensure your premises complies with the Food Act 1984.

When registered (or notified) under the state-wide system, you must let all relevant councils know where and when you will be trading in their districts by lodging a Statement of Trade (SOT). This can be done online in Streatrader.

Visit Streatrader to apply or seek more information.

For more information about food safety during a power outage and emergency situations, visit the Department of Health website. This site also contains important food safety information in a range of languages.

For more general information about food safety you can visit the Food Safety Information Council website.

It is the responsibility of the proprietor of any food business to ensure that the food they sell is safe and suitable for consumption and that they comply with legislative requirements under the Food Act 1984.

The Department of Health and Human Services maintains a Food Safety Register of Convictions that identifies businesses that have been convicted of breaches of the Food Act 1984.

For more information or questions about setting up food premises in Knox, please contact our Environmental Health team on 9298 8000.

To view or download forms to register or transfer a food premises, see our Food Act Registration Forms page.