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                    COVID-19 and food businesses

                    COVID-19 has seen many changes to our city, especially for our hospitality and food businesses. We appreciate your cooperation as we reopen and rebuild our city, and we will continue to work with you to protect the health and wellbeing of the Victorian community.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​To maximise your success as you reopen and resume trading, it is important that you operate your business in a COVID-safe way. We have compiled a range of useful links and resources to support you to do this.

                    Outdoor dining program
                    The City of Melbourne is extending the fee waiver for outdoor dining permits until 31 March 2022. We will be in touch with permit holders with updated permits. The introduction of permit fees is delayed until 1 April 2022. For more information visit Outdoor dining.

                    Creating a COVID-safe workplace

                    It is mandatory that every Victorian business that is open has a COVIDSafe Plan to create a COVID-safe workplace.

                    Your plan must follow six COVID-safe principles: 

                    1. Ensure physical distancing.
                    2. Wear a face mask.
                    3. Practise good hygiene.
                    4. Keep records and act quickly if workers become unwell.
                    5. Avoid interactions in enclosed spaces.
                    6. Create workforce bubbles.

                    It is also important that areas of your food business are cleaned and disi​nfected frequently.

                    Industry restart guidelines

                    Victoria’s roadmap for reopening outlines considered and gradual steps to ensure that businesses can reopen safely and efficiently. As Victorian businesses begin to reopen, the priority will be the health and safety of workers and customers. Industry restart guidelines are available to help businesses in different industry sectors prepare to safely operate in accordance with the easing of restrictions.

                    Signs, posters and templates for your workplace

                    Do you need signage, posters and other templates to help you run a COVID-safe workplace? Visit the Victorian Government – signs, posters and templates page where you will find a record sheet for patrons to your business, a staff COVID-19 health questionnaire and a range of door signs and posters to help your business stay COVID-safe.

                    Promoting a business

                    By listing your business on the City of Melbourne What’s On website you will receive free coverage of your business. If you are already listed, remember to update your listing so people can see you are still open and the changes you have made.

                    Food Act registration renewals

                    ​Food Act registration renewals for small to medium businesses issued after 1 July 2020 will have a 25 per cent discount automatically applied.

                    I have an outstanding Food Act Registration, can I still get a reduction in fees?  

                    Yes, you will need to complete the General Financial Hardship Policy application form. 

                    If I can’t afford to pay my Food Act registration can I still get a food registration certificate so that I can use delivery services such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo?

                    Food businesses require a Food Registration Certificate to trade. Unfortunately we can’t issue a Food Registration Certificate unless the invoice has been paid. 

                    Closing a food business

                    During these difficult times we understand that some businesses have closed.  

                    If you have permanently ceased the operations of your food premises please contact health@melbourne.vic.gov.au

                    If you have closed your business due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the following procedures need to be undertaken to ensure the ongoing food safety of your business.  

                    Remember to:

                    • Clean your premises including all equipment food preparation areas and storage areas.
                    • Discard all potentially hazardous (e.g. refrigerated) food.
                    • Keep all exposed dry food (which you don’t discard) in sealed pest-proof containers. Keep all dry food with a long shelf life in sealed containers. 
                    • Seal off all possible points of entry for pests as far as practicable (e.g. seal off the base of doors; close windows).

                    If a large volume of food needs to be discarded, ensure this is disposed of correctly.  

                    You can also see additional guidance on how to close your business and where to seek support during and after the closure from Business Victoria. This includes debt relief and advice. 

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