How to notify your WA local council before opening a food business under the Food Act 2008: required information, the FA1 form, timing and common mistakes to avoid.
To notify a food business in Western Australia, submit a food business notification form (often called an FA1) to the local council for the area where your premises is located before you begin trading. Notification is a legal step under the Food Act 2008 (WA) . It tells the council who you are, where you operate and what food you handle, so it can classify your risk, schedule inspections and assign an Environmental Health Officer (EHO). This guide walks through exactly what you need, how to submit it, and the errors that most often delay a WA opening. Why Notification Matters in Western Australia Under the Food Act 2008 (WA), every food business must notify its local government (council) before commencing operations. Notification is different from a licence or permit in some other states, but the effect is the same: until the council has your details on file, it cannot classify your premises or lawfully monitor your compliance. Trading before notifying is a common breach that EHOs pick up quickly, and it starts your relationship with the regulator on the wrong footing. Western Australia aligns with the national Food Standards Code , including Standard 3.2.2 (Food Safety Practices and General Requirements) and Standard 3.2.2A (Food Safety Management Tools), which commenced on 8 December 2023. Notification is the trigger that brings your premises into that regulatory system. Who Needs to Notify? Notification applies broadly. You almost certainly need to notify if you run any of the following in WA: Cafes, restaurants, takeaways and bars serving food Bakeries, patisseries and sandwich shops Mobile food vans, coffee trailers and market stalls Caterers and function centres Home-based food businesses (subject to council assessment) Retailers handling or displaying unpackaged food Temporary and mobile operators may need to notify their "home" council and then inform other councils where they trade at events. If you are unsure, contact your council early rather than assuming an exemption. What Information You'll Need to Provide Most WA councils use an FA1-style notification form, either on paper or online. Prepare the following before you start so you can complete it in one sitting: Business identity: registered business name, trading name, ABN and proprietor or company details. Contact details: a responsible person the EHO can reach, plus a postal and email address. Premises address: the physical location, including unit or shop number, and a floor plan showing the kitchen layout. Food activities: a clear description of what you do — cooking, cooling, reheating, packaging, storage, display and sale. Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) details: the nominated supervisor and their qualification, if appointed. Scale of operation: estimated trading hours, seating capacity and expected volumes. Some councils require fit-out or construction plans to be approved before you open, particularly for new builds or major renovations. Confirm requirements at the planning stage to avoid a last-minute holdup. How to Notify Your WA Council: Step by Step Identify the correct council. Notification goes to the local government where the premises sits. Use our council directory to find the right one. Download or open the notification form. Most councils publish an FA1-style form on their website; some offer an online portal. Complete every field accurately. Vague answers slow the process. Describe your food handling honestly and in detail. Attach supporting documents. Floor plan, equipment list and, where required, fit-out plans and FSS certificate. Submit before you trade. Lodge well ahead of your planned opening date to allow for assessment and any pre-opening inspection. Keep confirmation. Save the acknowledgement and any reference number in your compliance records. Common Notification Mistakes to Avoid The issues that most often cause delays or follow-up questions are straightforward to prevent: Notifying after opening. Trading first and notifying later is a breach. Submit before day one. Vague food descriptions. "Sell food" tells the EHO nothing. Spell out the processes, especially high-risk ones like cooling and reheating. Missing FSS information. If your council expects a designated supervisor, leaving this blank invites a request for more information. Forgetting to re-notify. If your menu, ownership, structure or activities change significantly, update the council. Ignoring fit-out approvals. Skipping plan approval can force costly rework after inspection. What Happens After You Notify Once your notification is processed, the council assigns a priority classification (commonly P1 high risk, P2 medium risk, or P3 low risk) that determines how often you are inspected. It then schedules a first inspection, which may occur before or shortly after you open. Use the lead time productively: set up your temperature logging , build a written cleaning schedule, and record your allergen and corrective action processes so you are inspection-ready from day one. Fees, Timing and How Long It Takes Notification fees and processing times are set locally, so there is no single statewide figure. Some WA councils charge an assessment or annual fee; others fold food business administration into broader charges. As a practical rule, treat notification as something to complete several weeks before your planned opening date, not a few days. If your premises needs a fit-out inspection or plan approval, the timeline extends further, because those steps often have to be completed and signed off before you can lawfully trade. Building in a buffer protects your opening date and your cash flow. Notification for Mobile and Temporary Food Businesses Mobile food vans, coffee trailers, market stalls and pop-ups have specific considerations in WA. You generally notify a "home" or "enforcement" council — usually where the business is based or garaged — and then inform other councils when you trade at events or markets in their areas. Event organisers