Food Safety & Licensing
It is estimated that more than five million Australians get ill from eating unsafe food each year. Food safety is an important issue for everyone. Food businesses are required to ensure that they handle, store, display and sell food in a safe manner.
Council monitors the food safety and hygiene standards of food businesses by employing Environmental Health Officers (EHO’s). Licensing, education, regular inspections and enforcement ensures that food businesses are compliant with food safety legislation. Download the A-Z of Environmental Health flyer for more information on council's environmental services.
Are you are starting a new food business or taking over an existing food business? Then you may need a food business licence. To assist you, we offer information for new and existing food licenses, illegal operations and the permits required for footpath and outdoor dining.
To apply for a food licence, you will need to submit a complete application to council. We have provided information to assist in you this process on this page.
A food business must ensure that persons undertaking or supervising food handling operations have the appropriate skills and knowledge that are commensurate with their work activities
Environmental Health Services has available for businesses or interested members of the community a range of Factsheets, Templates, Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions
Food 4 Thought
Every month Townsville City Council provides a newsletter to subscribed members called Food 4 Thought - It's Your Business.
This newsletter contains information on:
- Legislation updates and changes
- Issues affecting food in Townsville
- Food recalls
- Educational information
- Highlights on coverage of food poisoning outbreaks in Australia and
- General information about Townsville's Environmental Health Services.
