Home Based Food Business

Preparation Food Risk Table

Home Based Food Business

Douglas Shire Council will only consider Home Based Food Business using a Domestic Kitchen if the nature of the food being prepared and handled is low-risk and not at a commercial level (e.g. for events, fundraisers and markets).

Example foods include;

  • Biscuits or cakes.
  • Confectionery, corn chips, potato chips or nuts.
  • Dried or glazed fruit.
  • Jams, preserves and chutneys.

Domestic kitchens are not designed to meet the Standards required of a Commercial Food Premise as they are not structurally constructed to meet the food safety requirements that are legislated in the Qld Food Act and the Australian Food Safety Standards. For example:

  • Inability to separate food business activities from the household food preparation can pose an increased risk of food contamination,
  • No designated separate hand wash basin for the kitchen,
  • Non-Commercial grade surfaces and appliances
  • Domestic range hoods do not comply with the Australian Standards for mechanical ventilation (AS 1668),
  • Domestic dishwashers may not be capable of effectively sanitising equipment and utensils,
  • Limited storage space (dry storage, refrigerator/freezer),
  • Domestic refrigerators may struggle to maintain correct temperatures.
  • Inability to exclude pets from food handling areas

Council Town Planning and Trade Waste approvals may also affect the feasibility of establishing a home-based food business. Contact should be made with these departments to discuss these legislative requirements prior to lodging a Food Business License.

Email: enquiries@douglas.qld.gov.au to find out more.

Food Type Category Preparation and Sale in Douglas Shire Preparation and Sale outside Douglas Shire Preparation & Sell to Commercial Retail Preparation & Sell on line
Low Risk Non-profit Home Based Market Licence Commercial kitchen Required Commercial kitchen Required Commercial kitchen Required
Commercial Home Based Market Licence Commercial kitchen Required Commercial kitchen Required Commercial kitchen Required
High Risk Non-Profit discuss with an Environmental Health Officer the definitions of what constitutes a commercial kitchen as opposed to a non-licensable kitchen or a domestic kitchen
Commercial

The Qld Food Act 2006, section 19, defines “sell” to include:

  • barter, offer or attempt to sell; and
  • receive for sale; and
  • have in possession for sale; and
  • display for sale; and
  • in relation to food, supply the food as a meal or part of a meal to an employee; and
  • offer as a prize or reward; and
  • give away for the purpose of advertisement or in furtherance of trade or business; and
  • in relation to food, give the food away, from a food business, to a person;