Conditions for the Sale of Pre Packed Foods

Do any food laws apply?

Yes.  In Tasmania, the Food Act 2003 and the Food Safety Standards apply even to food sold at markets, fairs and streetstalls.  You have a legal responsibility to ensure the food you sell is safe and is labelled correctly.  The law is there because consumers expect that the food they buy is safe - no matter where they buy it.

What do you need to do to comply?

Generally, pre-packed foods sold at markets, fairs and streetstalls are lower risk operations.  You should be following good hygienic practices such as:

Do I need to complete an application form?

Yes.  Application for a Temporary Food Outlet Form must be completed and lodged with Council.  Application forms are available from the Customer Service Centre, 16 Elizabeth Street, Hobart or by accessing the above link.

At home

• Keeping your kitchen hygienically clean and tidy
• Washing hands before preparing or handling food
• Keeping perishable food cold in the fridge (below 5?C) or hot (above 60?C)
• Avoiding risk of food contamination by flies, pets or young children
• Checking quality of ingredients
• Using an approved and clean food packaging material

At the market, fair or streetstall

• Keep all packaged food free from dust, flies and other types of contamination
• Do not store food directly on the ground at any time
• Maintain the stall in a clean condition
• Do not store second hand or used items with food for sale
• Readily perishable foods and foods subject to rapid deterioration should be stored under approved refrigerated conditions

What about labelling requirements?

It is important that proper and informative labels are attached to your pre-packed goods intended for sale.

Why?

Ingredients such as peanuts are life threatening to many people with allergies.  Other ingredients such as eggs, milk and wheat flour can cause breathing problems and extreme distress in some people.  The food laws require food for sale to be correctly labelled to prevent this from happening.

Labelling does not need to be expensive or difficult.  A simple handwritten list on a sticky label may be all that is needed.

The following must be clearly written on a food label

• The name of the food
• Name and address of the maker, packer or seller of the food
• Appropriate date marking
• The list of ingredients in descending order of proportion used

What about charitable organisations?

Many charitable organisations that prepare and sell food already have successful food hygiene systems in place to produce food that complies with the food laws.  It should not be too difficult to make any necessary changes.

Need more information?

Contact one of the Environmental Health Officers at the Council.  These officers can provide you with information about how to prepare safe food and how to comply with the food laws.

Environmental Health Officers may be contacted at the Hobart City Council on ph 6238 2715.

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Food Vehicles

What kind of food vehicle do you mean?

A food vehicle from which food is sold directly to the public.

What do I need to know?

The Food Act 2003 & the Food Safety Standards also apply to food vans, food carts & all types of food vehicles.

A Food Business Application must be completed and lodged with Council, The application form can be obtained from the Hobart City Council's Customer Service Centre, 16 Elizabeth Street, Hobart.

How do I get my vehicle approved?

You should draw a plan of your proposed vehicle and the food preparation and sales area, showing the floor plan and a sectional elevation.

You should include details of:

• Surface finishes
• Bench and shelf design and finish
• Food cooling and heating equipment

Then contact the Council's Development & Environmental Services Division on (03) 6238 2715 and make an appointment with an Environmental Health Officer to discuss the plans of your vehicle.

My vehicle is already built

Your food vehicle must comply with the Food Safety Standards.

These standards require that:

• Vehicles are designed to ensure that animals and insects are excluded
• Dust and airborne contaminants cannot easily enter food area
• Surfaces of wall, ceiling and floors be durable, smooth, impervious and easily cleaned and finished in a light colour
• Wall floor junctions to be coved
• Thermometers are used for regular checking of the refrigerator temperature
• Vehicle is cleaned and maintained in a way that ensures the wholesomeness of the food for the whole period of operation

Other requirements

• Approved & adequate hand washing facilities must be provided.  A waste water container is also to be supplied.  Disposable paper towels and soap are to be readily available
• Dish and utensil washing facilities must be provided and are to be supplied with hot water
• Ventilation over cooking facilities (as necessary)
• Unwrapped food is not to be displayed unprotected and is to be shielded from the public and direct sun light
• All food is to be stored above the floor
• Drinking straws, cups, spoons etc. shall be pre-packed or otherwise protected before use and must be of a disposable type
• Sauces, mustard, cream etc must be dispensed in an approved manner

I have done all that, what now?

There are occasions when you will take your food van out of the Hobart City Area.  The local council at your temporary location will want to know if your van has been approved.

Hobart City Council has started a registration list of food vehicles.  After your vehicle has been inspected and found to be in accordance with the standards, we will give you a letter stating that it is satisfactory for the purpose for which it is to be used.  This will make it easy for you to give a copy of the letter to the other council's officers.

Need more information

Council's Environmental Health Officers will be pleased to assist you with more information and help you complete your application form.

If you need more details do not hesitate to contact them by phoning (03) 6238 2715, or visit them at 16 Elizabeth Street, Hobart.