Welcome to the Australian Local Food System Policy Database. This is a collection of policies from New South Wales (NSW) and Victorian local governments that relate to healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems.
For further information about using the database and how it was created see How to use the database. You can search the database by using the fields below. Domain refers to eight broad categories under which various topics are situated. The domains and topics are based on a framework of recommendations for local government action on creating a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system (also located on the ‘How to use the database’ page linked above).
To cite the database: Reeve B, Carrad A, Rose N, Charlton K & Aguirre-Bielschowsky I (2021) Australian Local Food System Policy Database. Available at: https://law-food-systems.sydney.edu.au/policy-database (access date).
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Hold Ctrl to select multiple terms. Using ‘any words’ functions as an “OR” search. Using ‘all words’ functions as and “AND” search.
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| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APPROVALS AND USE OF LAND OWNED OR MANAGED BY COUNCIL | Note: the use of single use plastics to be phased out at markets and events held at Council venues or on Council land and at events sponsored by Council, by July 2020. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| APPROVALS AND USE OF LAND OWNED OR MANAGED BY COUNCIL | 8 Food Safety All food businesses (which includes all stallholders at farmers markets who are selling food products) are required by law to register their business activities onto the NSW Food Authority’s Notification and Food Safety Information System (NAFSIS). This can be done at no charge online at www.foodnotify.nsw.gov.au. A helpline has been established for further assistance on 1300 650 124. Food stalls are also required to register with Council and be listed on the Councils Commercial Premises Register and a fee may be applicable. Charities and community groups conducting fundraising activities are exempt from these requirements. As there are now various obligations imposed on food businesses and food handlers Council recommends visiting the FSANZ website to download a copy of the legislation and other fact sheets on food handling information that is covered in this section of the Market Code. The Food Safety Standards 3.1.1, 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 can be downloaded from: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandardscode/index.cfm#FSCchapter3 To access the food safety fact sheets visit the following link: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/mediareleasespublications/factsheets/foodsafetyfactsheets/index .cfm. The NSW Food Act 2003 and Food Standards Code apply to any premises used for the preparation of food for sale. It is generally expected that persons preparing food at home be aware of the requirements to ensure that the premises generally comply with this legislation. Food business operators must ensure that all foods are stored in such a way that it is protected from likely contamination and that the environmental conditions will not adversely affect the safety of the food. All goods should be stored at least 750mm off the ground. Packaging material used must be suitable for food packaging and unlikely to cause food contamination | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| APPROVALS AND USE OF LAND OWNED OR MANAGED BY COUNCIL | Any product sold in packaged form – including eggs – (jar, bottle, packet) is to be clearly labelled, with at least the address of the place where the food was made and a “best before” date. You will also need to list the ingredients so that people with allergies can see what is in the product. All stalls which sell “potentially hazardous” foods as defined by the NSW Food Authority are required to produce answers to the following enquiries by Council if asked: Premises where food preparation occurs Full address All persons involved in handling/preparation/serving of ingredients or “potentially hazardous” food for sale at a market stall. Are these people aware of food hygiene and safety? Detail any courses undertaken and provided copies of any supporting documents. Course/s intended to be undertaken in the near future related to food hygiene and safety. All steps involved preparing final product – from purchase of ingredients to serving and identification of sources of contamination. What goods and ingredients are usually purchased? Where do you normally purchase your good or ingredients? How do you transport and store ingredients and foodstuffs safely? Food preparation steps involving handling of foods and ingredients Identify all products sold Practices employed to minimize risks associated with above procedures. Exposure time/temperature controls Cleaning and sanitizing practices for premises, utensils, machinery, etc Is a safe potable water supply available? Essential hand washing requirements – How are these met? Vermin control Storage containers Preventing direct contact with food likely to be immediately consumed Are appropriate labels attached, as required for all prepacked food products? It is necessary that you consider the medical consequences of failing to notify the customer that a particular ingredient is contained in your product. Certain ingredients, including colouring or preservative agents can seriously affect the health of people with allergies and illnesses (such as asthma). (Note: The Food Safety Plan must identify likely sources of food contamination, e.g. microbial and foreign matter and the methods used to minimize contamination) Generally, animals may be sold as long as appropriate distances are maintained between food stalls and animals for sale. Birds and poultry may be sold by appropriately licenced bird traders/sellers, in keeping with the Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Animals in Pet Shops (NSW Department of Primary Industries) and all other animal sellers should contact Council for relevant information regarding bio-security, food contamination and health and hygiene issues. If you are selling butchers’ meat, smallgoods, uncooked fermented manufactured meats, raw poultry, or wholesaling/processing meat, poultry, dairy products, seafood or plant products, you will probably need to be licensed by the NSW Food Authority. Contact the Authority before you start selling to find out the requirements. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| APPROVALS AND USE OF LAND OWNED OR MANAGED BY COUNCIL | Council has a strong commitment to the production and supply of safe food to all consumers in the community. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| APPROVALS AND USE OF LAND OWNED OR MANAGED BY COUNCIL | Council requires that all food stalls selling “potentially hazardous foods” submit a Food Safety Plan | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| APPROVALS AND USE OF LAND OWNED OR MANAGED BY COUNCIL | Council reserves the right to conduct inspections to ensure that all stallholders are registered with the NSW Food Authority (a free on-line form is available at www.foodnotify.nsw.gov.au. A helpline has been established for further assistance on 1300 650 124). If Council considers a stall to be non-compliant it is the Farmers market organiser responsibility to ensure the stallholder ceases trade immediately. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| ARARAT RURAL CITY COUNCIL REVENUE AND RATING STRATEGY 2018 | Differential Rates: That Council approve the following Differential percentages for the 2018/19 rating year to ensure the equitable imposition of rates and charges: General 100% Commercial & Industrial 125% of General Farm 55%% of General | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Ararat Visitor Economy Strategy 2018–2021 | Attraction or creation of a flagship event has the potential to assist with Ararat’s positioning as a destination in its own right. The event should celebrate one of Ararat’s strengths, embracing food and wine, dark tourism, nature-based activities or the heritage of the region as an underlying theme. | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Ararat Visitor Economy Strategy 2018–2021 | Campaign to secure events that align with brand and play to our strengths eg. Dark tourism, food & wine, NBT | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Ararat Visitor Economy Strategy 2018–2021 | Encourage private sector accommodation development in scenic NBT locations –eg: boutique and farm stays | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Ararat Visitor Economy Strategy 2018–2021 | Facilitate the creation of new events to incorporate food & wine offerings (in conjunction with private event operators) A | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Ararat Visitor Economy Strategy 2018–2021 | Leverage off the Grampians Pyrenees Wine & Culinary Master Plan | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Ararat Visitor Economy Strategy 2018–2021 | Promote the municipality’s wine and food opportunities | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Ararat Visitor Economy Strategy 2018–2021 | Work with farm gates to develop new product & experiences | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Ararat Visitor Economy Strategy 2018–2021 | Work with food businesses to develop improved food offerings | Economic Development | Local food initiatives for economic development | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Ararat Visitor Economy Strategy 2018–2021 | Continued support and growth of Farmers’ Markets and produce promotion | Economic Development | Public food markets and distributors | Victoria | Ararat | Regional |
| Arts and Culture Strategy. | Example of Goal One: The Twilight Hawkers Market, Euroa Breaking down the process… What were they looking for? | (intended outcomes) Strathbogie Inc is a community group that have successfully run a Twilight Hawkers Market on three separate occasions. What they wanted to achieve was to bring cultural diversity to our community through food, music and dance. They wanted the event to be accessible to ALL and be kind to the environment with a ZERO WASTE ethos. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Strathbogie | Regional |
| Arts and Culture Strategy. | Example of Goal One: The Twilight Hawkers Market, Euroa Breaking down the process… What were they looking for? | (intended outcomes) Strathbogie Inc is a community group that have successfully run a Twilight Hawkers Market on three separate occasions. What they wanted to achieve was to bring cultural diversity to our community through food, music and dance. They wanted the event to be accessible to ALL and be kind to the environment with a ZERO WASTE ethos. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Strathbogie | Regional |
| Arts and Culture Strategy. | Example of Goal One: The Twilight Hawkers Market, Euroa Breaking down the process… What were they looking for? | (intended outcomes) Strathbogie Inc is a community group that have successfully run a Twilight Hawkers Market on three separate occasions. What they wanted to achieve was to bring cultural diversity to our community through food, music and dance. They wanted the event to be accessible to ALL and be kind to the environment with a ZERO WASTE ethos. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Strathbogie | Regional |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Council currently supports the Sustainable Homes program that is run through SECCCA. A local facilitator runs sessions covering water and energy efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable gardening. These workshops provide valuable information to the community to assist with sustainable living. Council will continue to support these and other sustainability workshops to catalyse sustainable living across the Shire. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Encourage local food production through community education and establishing and supporting community gardens. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Locate high density housing and food retailers close to rail stations | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | ocating high density housing and local food retailers close to rail stations through the planning process. | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Achieved – some progress with the Sustainable Homes program and agricultural emissions reduction program. Sustainability Expo delivered in 2010, 2011 and 2013. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Council currently supports the Sustainable Homes program that is run through SECCCA. A local facilitator runs sessions covering water and energy efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable gardening. These workshops provide valuable information to the community to assist with sustainable living. Council will continue to support these and other sustainability workshops to catalyse sustainable living across the Shire. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Encourage local food production | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Support and promote to farmers the five objectives from the National Plan for Greenhouse and Agriculture in collaboration with the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) and the Sustainable Energy Authority, including improved information on agriculture emissions and implications of greenhouse, climate change and appropriate adaptive responses. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Support the protection and enhancement of local agriculture S | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Supporting local agriculture to provide food for the Shire and region. The Bunyip food belt project, which aims to increase the intensity of farming in the Bunyip, Koo Wee Rup and Lang Lang region, is a key part of this initiative. | Sustainability and Environment | Sustainable local food production | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |
| Aspirational Energy Transition Plan 2014–24 | Encourage local food production through community education and establishing and supporting community gardens. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | Victoria | Cardinia | Metropolitan |