Temporary events

A temporary event is any occasion which is not permanent. Examples include, fairs, festivals, markets and shows.

All food businesses, whether you are running a restaurant or a cake stall, must comply with the Food Safety Standards.

A temporary event guideline has been developed to make food businesses aware of their legal requirements and to suggest ways to assure food safety at the event.

 Temporary Event Guide (1.1Mb)

If you plan to trade at an event in Newcastle you will need to contact the event organiser. It is essential that you comply with the Temporary Event Guide. Council’s Food Officer’s may then inspect your food business at the event to ensure you comply with the guide. You must also notify the NSW Food Authority of your food activity details even if it's is a one off occurance.

Go to www.foodnotify.nsw.gov.au  It is fast, free of charge and provides you with an instant certificate of confirmation.

Home manufacture

Home manufacture is not recommended, due to difficulties in manufacturing food for sale in a domestic setting. The operation of the business must comply with the Food Standards Code and Food Safety Standards 3.2.2 and 3.2.3. Alternately, Food Services recommend hiring or leasing an approved commercial kitchen that is inspected annually by Council. Contact your local sporting club, school canteen, community hall or bowling club to see if they hire out their kitchen.

Labelling

A food package for retail sale must contain a label  with the following FSC (1.2.1).

• Prescribed name or a name or a description of the food
• Identification number
• Name and address of the supplier
• Ingredients listing
• Nutritional Information Panel
• Best before or use by date
• Directions for use or storage
• Warning and advisory statements

Go to the nutrition panel calculator  to generate a nutritional information panel for your food products.

Fundraising

Charity and community groups provide valuable services to our community often sell food as part of their fundraising activities. Not-for-profit operations are not excluded from the requirement of the Food Safety Standards and provisions of the NSW Food Act 2003.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has developed a series of fact sheets to assist charity and community groups with their fundraising event such as cake stalls and BBQ’s, including:

 Introduction to the new Food Safety Standards for charities and community organisations (117Kb)

 Sausage sizzles and barbeques (50Kb)

 Labelling food (65Kb)

 Skills and knowledge for food handlers (54Kb)

 Temperature control for food (67kb)

 Preparing and cooking food for charity events (78Kb)

 Preparing food for camps (56Kb)

 Health and hygience of food handlers (88Kb)

 Transporting food for charity events (52Kb)