Anyone selling food or drinks for human consumption needs to have a TFP Permit to trade within the Georges River Council area.

Food does not include therapeutic goods that are regulated under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, such as medicine or supplements.

• After you submit your application, you’ll receive an invoice for the application fee at the email address you provided.

• You must pay the invoice within 7 days.

• Once payment is received, an Environmental Health Officer will assess your application.

• The assessment can take up to 28 days. Submitting all required details in your application will help speed up this process.

• Keep these timeframes in mind and apply early to ensure you are approved before your first trading day in the Georges River Council area.

• A TFP permit is not guaranteed. Approval based on compliance with food safety laws. If your business does not meet the requirements, a permit cannot be issued.

Yes. The application fee is listed in Council’s Fees and Charges.

After you submit your form, an invoice will be emailed to the address you provided. 

The fee is for the lodgement of your TFP Permit Application and must be paid within 7 days.

Council will assess your application once payment is received. 

If payment is not made within 7 days, your application will be cancelled and Council will send you a cancellation notification.

To withdraw your TFP Permit application, email us at ehadmin@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au.

If you withdraw your application within five (5) working days of submitting your application:

• No fee will be charged if you have not yet paid the invoice.

• If you have already paid, the application fee will be fully refunded.

If you withdraw after five (5) working days, the application fee still applies.

After submitting your TFP Permit application, you will receive a confirmation email.
 
The assessing officer will usually contact you within 10 working days if further information is needed.

If you haven’t received a confirmation email:

• Check your email address – make sure the email you provided in your application is correct. 

• Check your junk or spam folder.

If you haven’t heard from Council, call the Environmental Health Administration Officer at (02) 9330 6033. You can also email ehadmin@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au to check the status of your application.

Your application may be refused for several reasons, including:

• The application is incomplete.

• Information provided is inaccurate.

• You did not provide additional information requested by the assessing officer.

• Your proposed business operation does not meet legal requirements.

Having a TFP Permit allows your stall or mobile food vehicle to trade at events in the Georges River Council area. 

If you want to trade independently (outside events), you must get approval to use the land. The requirements depend on the type of land:
 

Council-owned or managed land:

You need additional approval, which may involve a Section 68 approval under the Local Government Act 1997.

Contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on (02) 9003 6400 for more information.
 

Public Land

You need Council permission to trade on public land, such as:

• Parks (including parking spaces near parks).

• Roads.

• Footpaths.

Contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on (02) 9003 6400 for more information.
 

Private Land

Temporary food stalls cannot trade on private land without planning approval. Mobile food vehicles can trade on private land if:

• You have the property owner’s consent.

• You follow the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2009, including:

  • Not blocking vehicles or pedestrian access or building entry.

  • Not obstructing utilities on the property or nearby land.

  • Not located under tree canopies or damaging trees.

  • Not causing damage to public property.

  • If in a residential zone, only trade between 7.00am and 10.00pm.

  • If next to a residential zone, only trade between 7.00am and 10.00pm.

  • Only one mobile food vehicle is on that land and must not break any existing development consent conditions.

Council has a duty under the Food Act 2003 to make sure all food businesses in the Georges River area follow the food law.

Environmental Health Officers carry out unannounced inspections on temporary food businesses. This happens even if those businesses are not part of a specific event, to ensure compliance.

Yes. All inspections are charged in accordance with Council’s Fees and Charges.

An additional inspection may not be needed if these conditions are met:

1. Submit a copy of the latest inspection report

• Provide the most recent report to the Environmental Health Officer at the start of the event. Without it, an inspection will be conducted.
   

2. The inspection report must be legible

• The report can be physical or electronic and it must be clear. If it is not legible, an inspection will be conducted.
   

3. The report must be recent

• The inspection report must be within the last 6 months and dated in the current financial year.
   

4. The report must not show a failed inspection

• The report cannot show critical non-compliance. Examples include:

• Cross-contamination that renders ready-to-eat food unsafe or unsuitable.

• Lack of a hand wash facility.

• Lack of sanitiser.

• Temperature Control on potentially hazardous food.

When Environmental Health Officers inspect your food business, they follow food laws and focus on:

• Cleaning and sanitising.

• Temperature control.

• Cross contamination.

• Hygiene and food handling practices.

• Pest control.

• The use of food safety management tools (if required).

Construction and maintenance of temporary food stalls or mobile food vehicles are also checked. More information is available in:

• Guidelines for Food Businesses at Temporary Events - published by NSW Food Authority.

• Guidelines for Mobile Food Vending Vehicles - published by NSW Food Authority.

The food legislation includes:

• NSW Food Act 2003.

• Food Standards Code, Chapter 1 – Part 1.2 – labelling.

• Food Safety Standards 3.2.2 – Food safety practices and general requirements.

• Food Safety Standard 3.2.2A – Food Safety Management Tool.

• Food Safety Standards 3.2.3 – Food premises and equipment.

 
Additional guidelines for stalls and mobile food vehicles include:

• Guidelines for Food Businesses at Temporary Events - published by NSW Food Authority.

• Guidelines for Mobile Food Vending Vehicles - published by NSW Food Authority.

All food businesses must comply with these laws and guidelines.

Council plays a crucial role in both educating and regulating to ensure that the food produced for sale is safe for consumption.

If you fail an inspection, we will ask you to fix the issues. This is to make sure your food business follows the food law.

Georges River Council uses Revenue NSW to recover outstanding fees.

When Officers carry out a food inspection, Revenue NSW sends the invoice directly to your business. 

If you have questions about the invoice, contact Revenue NSW on 1300 655 805.

• All temporary food premises with a current TFP Permit are listed on Council's website.

• The listing shows your trading name permit number, ABN, contact number and email address.

• If you don't want your phone number or email shown, please email us at ehadmin@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au.