Food business registration exemptions for charities and community events

There are exemptions for some Northern Territory food businesses that raise funds solely for community or charitable purposes.

Providing free food

You don't need to register a food business when giving food away. However, it is important to make sure that the food is safe. Examples include:

To find out more about food safety, read sausage sizzles and barbeques.

You are not required to register as a food business to sell food at a fundraising event if the food is:

low risk and doesn't require refrigeration such as:
- biscuits
- confectionery
- carbonated drinks
cooked, and:
- doesn't require prior preparation before cooking
- is eaten immediately after cooking.

This includes fundraising events such as:

sausage sizzle or barbeque to raise funds for a sports club
lamington drive to raise money for the victims of a natural disaster
selling chocolates to raise money for the Red Cross
school fetes where the proceeds are donated to a charitable organisation
school fundraisers where the money stays with the school to purchase equipment, library books etc.

You must register your fundraising event as a food business when you don't fit into the criteria and examples listed above.

If you are unsure, contact Environmental Health. To get their contact details, go to the NT Health website.

If you are not required to register, it is important that food handlers have basic skills and knowledge to make sure food is safe.

Volunteers can undertake the following free online courses:

If you are required to register, read skills and knowledge for food workers.

For more information, contact Environmental Health. To get their contact details, go to the NT Health website.

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