Licence renewals, inspections and complaints
Find out about food business licence renewals, preparing for inspections, how to make a complaint, and how Council will investigate complaints and take enforcement action.
Licence renewal
Your licence is renewed annually and attracts an annual fee.
If you want to make a minor change to your licence, for example, a change of contact details or you require a copy of your licence, contact Council. You are not required to submit an application for this. If you are renovating or making changes to the fit-out you will need to submit an application.
Inspections and enforcement
Legislation requires Council to monitor the standard of operations in business. They do this through a routine inspection program. The frequency of these inspections will depend on the type of food business and its level of compliance.
The following self-assessment checklists will help you prepare for and inspection:
- fixed food business (PDF, 168.89 KB)
- mobile food business (PDF, 171.72 KB)
- food stall (PDF, 145.82 KB)
- water carrier (PDF, 123.3 KB).
Queensland Health's Know your food business: A self-assessment guide to the Food Safety Standards can also help you prepare for an inspection.
Enforcement
Under the Food Act 2006 if you are operating a food business you must comply with the Food Safety Standards and any conditions on your licence.
Failure to comply with the Food Safety Standards or any of your licence conditions, may result in one or more of these enforcement actions:
- a letter being issued requiring action or work to be conducted
- a legal notice being issued requiring action to be taken or work to be conducted
- issuing of a Prescribed Infringement Notice (PIN or on-the-spot fine)
- suspension of a licence
- cancellation of a licence
- prosecution.
Food businesses can apply the due diligence defence during enforcement action. Find out about due diligence and how you can apply it.
Complaints
Information for businesses
Council has a duty to investigate and respond to complaints received.
A complaint may result in an inspection of your premises to ensure you are complying with the legislation.
If a person contacts you to make a complaint about your business, it is a good idea to have complaint management procedures (Word 849KB) in place for staff to follow.
Information for customers
Find out who to contact to make a complaint about a food or food business.