Buy an existing food premises

Before you buy an existing food business, Council strongly recommends that you seek and obtain a Food Act transfer inspection report. Council’s Environmental Health Officers perform this inspection.

The Food Act transfer inspection report will detail all non-compliances with the requirements of the Food Standards Code.

There is a fee associated with such an inspection and you will need the current proprietor to sign a form to release information.

How to obtain a Food Act Transfer Inspection Report

1. Submit a signed Request for Food Act Transfer Inspection Report form (DOC 41Kb) with the fee.
2. Council conducts an inspection of the food business.
3. After the inspection, Council sends you or your solicitor a typed copy of the Food Act Transfer Inspection.

Transfer of Food Act Registration

If the owner of a food business changes, the new owner must apply to transfer the registration. There is a fee to transfer registration.

You will need to submit a new Food Safety Program, a new Food Safety Supervisor and to apply for registration by telling Council.

Following an inspection of the premises Council will transfer the food business registration to the new owner.

The steps to transfer registration

• Download and fill in an Application to Transfer Registration of Food Premises form.

You must include:

1. Contact details of the new owner
2. Details of new Food Safety Program. If you use a Department of Human Services template, submit pages 9, 10 and 11 of your Program. 
3. Details of new Food Safety Supervisor and proof of competency.

Council inspects your food business.

Council can:

1. Grant transfer of the registration;
2. Grant transfer of the registration with conditions, or
3. Refuse to transfer the registration.

You must operate your business in accordance with your Food Safety Program including keeping required logs and records.

Council is required to inspect the premises prior to registration. The Food Act 1984 provides that Council must not register a premises that does not comply with the Act, Standards and Codes.

Forms

• Request for Food Act Transfer Inspection Report form (DOC 41Kb)
• Application to Transfer Registration of Food Premises form

Links

• Fees and Charges