Food businesses must maintain their premises and all equipment in a clean and sanitary condition. Council's Environmental Health Officers routinely inspect, monitor and regulate premises where food is prepared and sold.

This includes commercial kitchens, food stalls and mobile food vehicles at public events.

For information relating to the preparation and sale of food for community groups and charitable organisations, click here

Approval to operate a food business

The Food Act 2003 requires all Tasmanian businesses that handle or sell food to have local council approval. This includes home-based businesses and charitable organisations that sell food for fundraising. Approval can be in the form of Notification or Registration of your food business, depending on the types of foods handled and sold.

Before operating your food business in the Meander Valley municipal area, you will need to complete the below Food Business Application Form and submit it to Council. Our Environmental Health Officers will determine if you require a Food Business Notification or a Food Business Registration when they assess your application.

Food Business Application Form

Food Business Notification does not expire but must be updated if there are changes in the types of foods handled and sold by your business.

Food Business Registration can be issued for any period up to a maximum of 12 months. Council's annual registration period runs from 1 July to 30 June (financial year).

Details of relevant fees for food business approval can be found in Council’s Fees and Charges 2024/2025.

On-street dining or advertising

If you wish to offer on-street dining options or place advertising signage on the footpath or road reserve at the front of your food business, you will need to apply for Council approval. To download the policy guidelines and an application form, click on the links below.

Approval to Occupy the Road Reserve - Policy Guidelines
Road Occupation Licence Application / Renewal Form

Mobile food businesses

Mobile food businesses, such as those that operate from a van or marquee either on the side of the road or as part of an organised event, must also have local council approval to handle and sell food. The Food Business Application Form and the Tasmanian Department of Health Guidelines for Mobile Food Businesses can be found below.

Food Business Application Form
Guidelines for Mobile Food Businesses

As with fixed food businesses, Mobile Food Business Notification does not expire (but must be updated if there are changes to the types of foods handled and sold) and Mobile Food Business Registration can be issued for any period up to a maximum of 12 months. Council's standard durations for registration of mobile food businesses are one day, two days, three-to-five days and 12 months. However, if you are wanting registration for a different duration, please contact our Environmental Health Team to discuss.

Under the Food Act 2003, Notification and Registration of a mobile food business can also be made valid statewide. This means that you can apply for a Notification or Registration with Meander Valley Council and use this approval to operate your mobile food business anywhere in Tasmania for the duration of the approval.

Roadside vending

If you intend to operate your mobile food business in the Meander Valley municipal area from a public street or property owned or managed by Council, you are required to obtain a Vendor's Permit. This is required in addition to approval under the Food Act 2003 (Notification or Registration), as detailed above. The Vendors Permit Application Form and Guidelines for Operating a Mobile Food Business in Meander Valley can be found below.

Vendors Permit Application Form
Guidelines for Operating a Mobile Food Business in Meander Valley

Building a new food business or renovating an existing food business - planning, design and construction

Approvals for new food premises or alterations to existing food premises may require (in order):

1. Planning Permission
2. Building Approval
3. Plumbing Approval
4. Health Approvals

Before you embark on a new business venture, contact one of Council's Town Planners on (03) 6393 5300 to discuss your proposal. Starting a new business can be costly if you do not obtain the relevant approvals.

For general information on design and construction requirements and the steps you are required to undertake before operating a food business, see the Helpful Documents sidebar to the left at the bottom of this page.

Food labelling requirements

Food labels ensure consumers can make informed choices. Food for retail sale must be labelled in accordance with the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code.

For an overview of labelling requirements, see the Helpful Documents sidebar to the left at the bottom of this page. For more information and to access food labelling calculators, click on the links below.

Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code
Nutritional Panel Calculator
Country of Origin Online Labelling Tool