SA Food Business Notification: Step-by-Step Guide

To notify a food business in South Australia, provide your business and premises details to the local council for the area where you trade, before you commence operations. Notification is required under the Food Act 2001 (SA) and triggers council assessment, inspection scheduling and rating eligibility. Notification is one of the first legal steps for any new SA food business, and getting it right avoids delays to opening. This guide sets out what you need, how to submit it, the mistakes that slow the process, and how notification connects to inspections and the Food Safety Rating Scheme. Why Notification Matters in South Australia The Food Act 2001 (SA) requires food businesses to notify the relevant council before commencing operations, and to notify again when certain details change. Notification is how the council knows you exist: it lets the council assess your risk, assign a priority classification, schedule inspections, and make you eligible to participate in the state's Food Safety Rating Scheme. Trading before you notify is a breach and can complicate your relationship with the regulator from the outset. Who Needs to Notify in SA? Notification applies to most food handling businesses, including: Cafes, restaurants, takeaways and bars serving food Bakeries, sandwich bars and patisseries Caterers and function venues Mobile food vans, coffee trailers and market stalls Home-based food businesses (subject to council assessment) Retailers handling unpackaged food Mobile and temporary food businesses generally notify a "home" council and inform other councils where they trade at events. If you are unsure whether you need to notify, ask your council rather than assuming an exemption. What Information Councils Need Most SA councils ask for the same core information, so prepare the following before you start: Business and proprietor details: registered and trading names, ABN, and company or owner information. Premises address: the physical location plus a floor plan and equipment list. Food activities: a clear description of what you do — cooking, cooling, reheating, processing, packaging, display and sale. Food safety supervisor or designated person: who oversees food safety and their training. Scale of operation: trading hours, seating and expected volumes. Some councils require fit-out or construction plans to be approved before opening, particularly for new builds. Confirm this early to avoid rework. How to Notify Your SA Council: Step by Step Find the right council for your premises using our council directory . Obtain the notification form from the council's website or online portal. Complete every field accurately , describing your food handling in detail. Attach supporting documents — floor plan, equipment list, and fit-out plans or FSS evidence where required. Submit before you trade , allowing time for assessment and any pre-opening inspection. Keep your confirmation and reference number in your compliance records. Common Notification Mistakes to Avoid Submitting late — after trade has started rather than before. Vague food descriptions that leave the EHO unsure of your risk. Missing supervisor details where the council expects them. Forgetting to re-notify when you change menu significantly, add catering, change ownership or move premises. Ignoring plan approvals for fit-outs, which can force costly changes after inspection. Notification for Mobile and Temporary Food Businesses Mobile food vans, coffee trailers, market stalls and pop-ups have specific considerations in South Australia. You generally notify a "home" council — usually where the business is based — and then inform other councils when you trade at events or markets in their areas. Event organisers often ask to see proof of notification and your food safety records before allocating a site, so keeping your confirmation, temperature logs and cleaning records in one accessible place saves you from reassembling paperwork every time you move. If your mobile operation grows into fixed premises, or vice versa, treat that as a change that requires updating your council. What Happens If You Don't Notify Trading before you notify is a breach of the Food Act 2001 (SA). Practically, it means the council has no record of your premises and cannot classify your risk or schedule inspections. When an EHO discovers unnotified trade — often after a complaint or a walk-past — your first contact with the regulator becomes an enforcement matter rather than a routine registration, which usually means closer scrutiny and faster follow-up. Notifying first, accurately, is the cheaper and less stressful path, and it also protects your eligibility for the Food Safety Rating Scheme. Keeping Your Notification Up to Date Notification is not a one-off event. The Food Act 2001 expects you to keep your details current, so build a habit of reviewing them whenever your business changes. Common triggers for re-notifying include a change of proprietor or company structure, a significant menu change that alters your risk profile, adding a new activity such as catering or delivery, renovating the premises, or relocating. Treating notification as a living record — rather than a form you filed once — keeps your classification accurate and avoids surprises at inspection. Linking Notification to Day-One Operations Notification is paperwork; the substance is the food safety system it commits you to. Use the time between notifying and opening to set up the records EHOs will check on day one: digital temperature logs , a written cleaning schedule, an allergen matrix aligned to Standard 1.2.3 (PEAL), and a compliance calendar so nothing is missed. Doing this before you open also positions you for a strong result in the Food Safety Rating Scheme. Frequently Asked Questions When must I notify my council in South Australia? You must notify before you commence food business operations, and again if certain details change. Notifying after you have started trading is