Cutting red tape

The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to cutting red tape and helping local business grow and create jobs.

From Wednesday (Dec 9), Tasmanians and visitors can enjoy greater food choices as a result of financial barriers preventing many mobile food business moving around the state being scrapped.

The Government’s amendments to the Food Act 2003 reduce the costs for mobile food business operators and also reduce the administrative burden for councils.

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 effective from tomorrow extends this provision to all mobile food businesses, whether they are in a trailer, tent or stall.

Prior to the amendment, some mobile food businesses paid up to $350 for each municipality they operated in. With 29 municipalities in Tasmania, some food businesses were 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.

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.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health