The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to cutting red tape and helping local business grow and create jobs.
Today I introduced proposed amendments to the Food Act 2003 that will reduce the costs for mobile food business operators and also reduce the administrative burden for councils.
Currently, mobile food businesses pay up to $350 for each municipality they want to operate in. With 29 municipalities in Tasmania, some food businesses are paying hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in fees.
This small but effective amendment means that once a mobile food business registers with one council they can operate right across the State.
This is a far more equitable situation for these mobile food businesses and also eliminates unnecessary duplication of council resources.
Single state-wide registration is currently available for mobile food businesses that are conducted ‘in a vehicle’, for example, an ice-cream van or take-away food van. This amendment extends this provision to all mobile food businesses, whether they are in a trailer, tent or stall.
This will not diminish food regulation standards or safety in Tasmania, indeed it is expected that the administrative burden on councils to assess and process applications will be reduced, allowing Environmental Health Officers to concentrate on compliance and inspection activities.
This is a further example of the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to reducing red tape and opening Tasmania up for business.