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Food Businesses

Food Businesses

Find essential information on starting, managing, or closing a food business in Kwinana. Learn about application processes, health and safety guidelines, required approvals, and how to ensure compliance with local regulations. Access forms, checklists, and contact details for assistance.

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Starting a Food Business in Kwinana

All food businesses within the City must notify the City of Kwinana in writing if they conduct, or plan to conduct a food business. 

You can lodge a food business application online under 'Planning, Building, Health Applications' via our online portal Kwinana Connect.

The online forms available include:

  • Notify or Register a fixed food business
  • Notify or Register a temporary or mobile food premise
  • Notify or Register a residential food business

Operating a food business without notification/registration without Local Government may incur a fine of $10,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a body corporate.

Safe Food Supply in Kwinana

The City of Kwinana’s Environment and Health Services team works to keep the community’s food supply safe. Environmental Health Officers do regular inspections, take food samples, investigate complaints, manage food recalls, and look into food poisoning cases.

All food business owners must follow these food safety standards:

Taking Over or Selling a Food Business

If you’re purchasing an existing food business, you may wish to Submit your application online under 'Planning, Building, Health Applications' via our online portal Kwinana Connect. This will ensure you’re aware of any outstanding orders and requirements for the premises and the timelines that have been set for completion.. 

Building, Renovating, or Changing a Food Business

Before applying for Environmental Health approval, make sure you have the necessary planning and building approvals.

Steps for Health Approval:

Ensure you have obtained the relevant planning and building approvals, before you apply for Environmental Health approval.

There are two stages within the health approval:

  1. Food Business assessment of plans and specifications: Submit an application for assessment of construction or fit-out plans for a food business online under 'Planning, Building, Health Applications' via our online portal Kwinana Connect
  2. Notification or Registration of food business: Submit an application to register your fixed, mobile or residential food business online under 'Planning, Building, Health Applications' via our online portal Kwinana Connect.
Home-Based or Out-of-City Food Prep

 If you prepare or store food at home or outside Kwinana, you need approval as a home food business or proof of approval from another local government.

Changing Business Activities

 If you change your food business (e.g., from selling cakes to cooked meals), you need a new registration. Submit a new form with detailed plans and pay the fees.

High-Risk Food Production

Some high-risk food businesses (e.g., meat processors, dairy producers) need Department of Health approval or special food safety plans. The table provided clarifies the Enforcement agency responsibilities for WA food businesses and applicable regulatory requirements.

Child Care and Aged Care Centers

These centres must submit food safety plans for approval before they start operating. See Regulatory Food Safety Auditing Requirements for Food Businesses. for details.

For questions, contact an Environmental Health Officer at 08 9439 0475 or health@kwinana.wa.gov.au.

Business Types

  • Some home food business may require planning approval.

    Certain food businesses may operate from a residential house such as:

    • Food storage or repackaging
    • Online sales of prepackaged low risk foods
    • Low risk foods manufacturing e.g. manufacturing jams, cookies, low risk cakes, breads and confectionary

    Submit your application online under 'Planning, Building, Health Applications' via our online portal Kwinana Connect

    The supporting information for residential food business application may include:

    • Detailed recipes
    • Detailed manufacturing process details with the temperature and time for each cooking step
    • Food storage and food transport information
    • Product shelf life determination
    • Packaging materials
    • Product labelling
    • Proof of knowledge and skills in food safety e.g. food safety certificate and food safety supervisor certificate
    • Your food recall procedure

    • You may be required to provide further information to prove that your food products are safe and suitable for consumption. This can include:

    • Microbiological, pH and water activity testing results by an accredited laboratory
    • Demonstrate that the potability of water supply through microbiological and/or chemical water testing results by an accredited laboratory (if not using scheme water)

    For more information on home food businesses see the City's guide to starting a home food business and/or the checklist for starting a home food business.

  • Application can be submitted through our SmartyGrants Online Portal.

    For a temporary food stall set up and requirements, please see guidelines for temporary food stalls.

  • Here are tips for safely making or selling food at public events or for group activities like "bring a plate" (not for sale). For more information please contact us​ to speak to an Environmental Health Officer. 

Food Safety and Hygiene

The City supports the FoodSafe Food Handler Training Program by Environmental Health Australia. This training helps businesses learn about food safety and hygiene and includes record-keeping. Completing this program is recommended to make sure your business follows safe food practices.

You can complete the FoodSafe Food Handler Training Program on FoodSafe Online.

Use the City's discount code "FSKWINA344" at checkout to access FoodSafe Online for free.

Permit to Trade (Trader's Permit Application)

Mobile and temporary food businesses are required to comply with the City of Kwinana Mobile Food Business Trading Policy, Operational Guidelines and the City of Kwinana Activities in Thoroughfares and Public Places and Trading Local Law.

You can lodge a trader’s permit application online on Kwinana Connect.

The trader's permit application can be found under the 'Planning, Building, Health Applications' section on Kwinana Connect.

The online forms available include:

  • Traders Permit for Mobile Food Vendors Registered Within the City of Kwinana (for vendors who hold a food business registration with the City of Kwinana)
  • Traders Permit for Mobile Food Vendors Registered Outside the City of Kwinana (for vendors who hold a food business registration with another Local Government)

There are three options for trader’s permits:

  1. Trade at an approved event or market – check with the organiser first to see if they will accept you as a vendor at their event or market
  2. Trade as an itinerant vendor (e.g. ice cream van around residential streets)
  3. Trade in the designated trading areas 

Please see list of approved designated trading areas.

Some locations are approved for healthier food vendors only. Healthier food vendors will be assessed against the Healthier Vendor Self-Assessment Checklist developed by the South Metropolitan Health Service Health Promotion Unit and meet two essential criteria including:

  • not to display full sugar drinks; and
  • include at least one healthier food option on their menu

Mobile food vendors with an approved permit are encouraged to become a regular hirer through SpacetoCo. This will enable the Designated Trading Location to be reserved ahead of trading. Please refer to Guideline on How to Reserve a Designated Trading Location.

Food business fees

You will be advised of the relevant fees by an Environmental Health Officer as part of the application process. For full list of fees that may apply, see:

Selling or Closing Your Food Business

If you are selling or closing your food business, you must complete the Food Business Cancellation Form. You need to notify the City within seven days of the change. If you do not, you may face a fine of up to $20,000 for individuals or $100,000 for companies.

Further information

Please contact the City’s Environmental Health Services   on 0894390475 or health@kwinana.wa.gov.au for further information.

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City of Kwinana kaditj kalyakoorl moondang-ak kaaradj midi boodjar-ak nyininy, yakka wer waabiny, Noongar moort. Ngala kaditj baalap kalyakoorl nidja boodjar wer kep kaaradjiny, baalap moorditj nidja yaakiny-ak wer moorditj moort wer kaditj Birdiya wer yeyi.

The City of Kwinana acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and play, the Nyoongar people. We recognise their connection to the land and local waterways, their resilience and commitment to community and pay our respect to Elders past and present.

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