Buying or transferring a food business

Pre-purchase inspection of existing food businesses

If you are looking to buy an existing registered food business, Council strongly recommends that you obtain a Pre-purchase Inspection Report from Council before you buy the food business.

Moreland City Council offers an pre-purchase inspection service. This service includes an inspection of the food business by Council Environmental Health Officers and a report that details all non-compliant items with the Food Standards Code.After Council issues the report, it is the responsibility of the purchaser and the vendor to negotiate to resolve all outstanding non-compliant items.

There is a fee for this service. The service provides a report within 10 working days.

The current proprietor of the food business must agree to you making an application for a pre-purchase inspection.

How to Apply

Online

• No need to fill in forms, simply click on the link below, enter your information and pay the fee by Visa or MasterCard.

Councils online lodgement guide (DOC 1Mb) should help if you are having any issues lodging online.

Submit a request for pre-purchase inspection report

Mail or in Person

• Complete the Request for Pre-Purchase Inspection for Registered Premises form (DOC 182Kb) (DOC 85Kb)
• Mail form and fee to Merri-bek City Council, Locked Bag 10, Merri-bek, VIC 3058, or
• Deliver form and pay in person at Merri-bek Civic Centre, 90 Bell Street, Coburg.
• Forms are not accepted by email.

Transferring existing food business registration

As part of the process of purchasing an existing food business, you must apply to transfer the registration from the current owner to you.  The current proprietor must agree to you making the transfer application.

For class 1 and class 2 premises you need to provide a new food safety program and nominate a food safety supervisor as part of the transfer. See start and register a new food business for more information.

Council Environmental Health Officers will asses the food business and inform you whether the registration transfer has been granted by Council. There may be conditions that you have to comply with before the registration can be transferred.

Once the transfer of registration is approved by Council, the new proprietor is legally responsible for ensuring compliance with the Food Act.

You can contact Council for more information about transferring food business registration.

How to Apply

Online

• No need to fill in forms, simply click on the link below,enter your information and pay the fee by Visa or MasterCard. If you have a new food safety program you can upload it as part of the online application process.

Councils online lodgement guide (DOC 1Mb) should help if you are having any issues lodging online.

Submit a request to transfer a business

Mail or in Person

• Complete the Application to Transfer Registration of Food Premises form (DOC 172Kb).
• Mail form, fee as well as any other documents required depending on the Class of business to Merri-bek City Council, Locked Bag 10, Merri-bek, VIC 3058, or
• Deliver form as well as any other documents required depending on the Class of business and pay in person at Merri-bek Civic Centre, 90 Bell Street, Coburg.
• Forms are not accepted by email.