Crackdown on Toowoomba social media food sellers

THE Toowoomba Regional Council is cracking down on residents selling food products through social media — here’s why.

The council is cracking down on businesses selling food through social media without the proper food licence.

THE Toowoomba Regional Council is cracking down on residents selling food products through social media without the proper licence.

The council revealed it had noticed an increase in people selling food through online platforms, many of which had not applied for a licence from the TRC.

Cr Joe Ramia said the TRC, which had the authority to allocate food licences in the Toowoomba region, would chase up people who didn’t follow the proper rules.

“Legislation requires most food businesses, including hobby food businesses, to be licensed by the council,” he said.

“The council monitors the standard of a food business against the Food Act 2006 and Food Standards Code.

“There has been an increase in the number of people selling food through social media without a food licence. The council will be following up on these businesses.

“If someone is thinking of making and selling food, they should contact the council on 131 872 and ask to speak to an environmental health officer for further licensing information.”

Council statistics revealed 162 food licences had been approved in 2019 so far, down from 195 approved the previously year.

But the number of applications had actually increased this year, going from 149 in 2018 to 160.

A food business is categorised as an operation that manufactures food, sells unpackaged food by retail or sells meals on at least 12 days in a financial year through a non-profit entity.

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