What licenses do you need for your food truck?
On  Tuesday, 22 July 2014, at 10.01 AM shortly after we launched our food truck business, I received an email from a client.
Hi Danny (sic),As discussed earlier, we would like you to be involved with the Sidney Myer Music Bowl this season.To trade at the SMMB we will need the following documentation from you for our records.Once relevant documentation has been received, I will be able to set up a site meeting at SMMB and provide you with relevant documentation/contract, or if you are unable to come out I can send the contract through to you. The contract will state that there is a 20% Royalties fee to be paid to Arts Centre Melbourne for trading within the grounds of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.Documentation needed (if applicable to your unit)
- Certificate of Registration of a Food Premises
- Public Liability Insurance Documents including a Certificate of Currency
- Vehicle Insurance Documents
- Food Safety/Food Handlers Certificates
- Risk Assessment/ Work Methods Statement
- Workers Compensation Certificate (insurance)
- Registration of outlet through Streatrader
- Building Certificate of Compliance (If providing own marquee)
- Compliance plate of Gas Installation (If providing a food van with Gas installation)
If you have any further queries please don’t hesitate to contact me. Look forward to seeing you soon
As you can see from the above email, clients require certain licences before they can allow you to participate in their event. This is especially so if it is a big event which might result in public safety issues and a backlash to event organisers.
Without the above documents, and others, you cannot participate in food vending events. This article discusses the five essential licenses you need for your food truck.
1. Certificate of Registration of Food Premises
The Certificate of Registration of Food Premises is a legal document that authorises you or your company to vend food to the public, provided for by the Food Act 1984 (Vic), s 40 and 43G.
The certificate is issued by your local council, in this case, Nilumbik Shire, after you pass an inspection of the food premise to ensure it meets all health and quality standards.
A copy of the Afrofeast Food Truck issued in 2014 is provided below for your perusal:
2. Public and Product Liability Insurance
What is public liability insurance? Operating a business comes with risks. For example, your gas cylinder may leak and explode, injuring clients. Your food truck may also damage other people’s properties. Consequently, you might be sued by members of the public for negligence and damages. Public Liability Insurance covers you in the event of any of your negligent acts.
What is product liability insurance? As a food business, you sell food and drinks to members of the public. Your products may harm people arising from your negligence. For example, your food may cause food poisoning, resulting in severe illness or even death. Product liability insurance covers clients and members of the public from negligent acts arising from your sale of food and drinks.
Public and Product Liability Insurance are often accompanied by a Certificate of Currency, which proves your insurance is valid.
3. Motor vehicle insurance
You’ve spent so much money setting up your food truck but haven’t insured it against risks? Are you that dumb? Well, don’t risk, and yes, event organisers require you to have motor vehicle insurance.
Unlike public and product liability insurance, motor vehicle insurance is paid for separately and protects your motor vehicle against accidents. The insurance company will issue a certificate of currency to prove that your policy is valid.
Unlike consumer motor vehicles, food trucks are commercial / business vehicles with higher insurance costs.
4. Food Safety/Food Handler Certificates
Before applying for a certificate of registration of food premises, you must complete specific essential courses on workplace hygiene, food safety, and food handling and be issued certificates of completion, which you will be asked from time to time by event organisers or even your local council.
- SITXOHS002AÂ Follow workplace hygiene procedures
- SITXFSA001AÂ Implement food safety procedures
- SITXFSA002AÂ Develop and implement a food safety program.
Please do some research to ensure the course codes have stayed the same.
5. Compliance plate of Gas Installation
Information about gas compliance is on the Energy Safe Victoria website. By law, you must engage a gas fitter to professionally install gas on your food truck premises. After installation, the gas fitter will inform the ESV inspector, who will inspect whether the gas was installed correctly. If satisfied, he will issue a letter to the plumber and attach a metallic Compliance Plate to your food truck.
I have not discussed other certificates/licences, such as electrical works, because that was completed by the tradie who built my food truck; however, it is required. Also, you must obtain a worker’s compensation certificate to cover yourself and employees working on your food truck.
As you can see from this list, food truck premises require several certificates and licenses, most of which must be renewed periodically. It is you, the food truck operator, who will incur all costs related to compliance. Usually, you should pass those costs to the final consumer of your products.
I have heard several people complain about the cost of food truck offerings. Unfortunately, some clients do not understand how much time and money food trucks spend to make them delicious meals, but the cost is very high.
What do you think about this list? Have I left something out that is important to the food truck community? Please let me know in the comment section below.
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