- café, restaurant or bar
- takeaway food shop
- on at least 12 days each financial year
- meals prepared by your organisation at a particular place.
Who does not need a food business licence?
If your food business consists only of one or more of the following, you do not need a food business licence:
- the production of primary produce under an accreditation issued under the Food Production (Safety) Act 2000, part 5 (for example the Meat Scheme, Seafood Scheme, Dairy Scheme and Egg Scheme). The regulation of this Act is the responsibility of Safe Food Production Queensland.
- the sale of unpackaged snack food (eg cakes and biscuit without cream or custard, confectionary, potato chips, nuts)
- the sale of whole fruit or vegetables
- the sale of seeds, spices, dried herbs, tea leaves, coffee beans or ground coffee
- the grinding of coffee beans
- the sale of drinks (other than fruit or vegetable juice processed at the place of sale) including, for example, tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
- the sale of ice including flavoured ice
- the sale of food by a non-profit organisation that meets the exemption criteria
Warning
Your food business will still need to comply with all food safety legislation, regulations and standards even if you do not need a food business licence. Read more about your roles and responsibilities as a food business.
Exemption criteria for non-profit organisations
Non-profit organisations have a number of exemptions under the Food Act 2006. You do not need a food business licence for:
- the sale of meals by a non-profit organisation if:
- the meal consists only of fruit, cereal, toast, or similar food; or
- the consumer of the meal helps to prepare it.
- are pre-prepared by an entity other than the organisation, and
- are stored and heated—or otherwise prepared—by the organisation in accordance with directions of the meal’s manufacturer.
- are prepared as part of an educational or training activity conducted by the organisation involving food preparation, hospitality or catering.
Examples of when you need a licence for a non-profit organisation
- a restaurant, open daily to the public, operated by a sporting club to raise revenue for the club
- a non-profit organisation preparing and selling meals to homeless persons at a homeless persons' hostel each day
- the preparation of meals by Meals on Wheels each day.
Examples of when you do not need a licence for a non-profit organisation
- the sale of a frozen meal, at the canteen of an independent school, after the meal is microwaved in accordance with instructions on the meal’s packaging.
- a cooking class as part of a food preparation, catering or hospitality course.
Accreditation for primary producers
You need accreditation with Safe Food Production Queensland if your business involves the production of primary produce. For example:
- butcher or abattoir
- making of cheese or yogurt
- processing milk
- eggs and egg products
More information
Contact your local council to find out if you are planning to start a food business, or if you are unsure whether you need a food business licence.
Read more about:
- Applying for a food business licence
- food safety requirements for non-profit organisations
- food safety requirements for fundraising events
- food safety requirements for food donations
