Non-profit organisations
Are you a non-profit organisation looking to prepare food? Different rules apply but you may still need a Food Business Licence.
The licensing requirements under the Food Act apply to a non-profit organisation only when selling meals that have been prepared by the organisation at a particular place on more than 12 occasions in a financial year.
Under the Food Act 2006, a "meal" is defined as food that:
- is, or is intended to be, eaten by a person sitting at a table, or a fixed structure used as a table, with cutlery; and
- is of adequate substance as to be ordinarily accepted as a meal.
If you are handling food at home to give to a non-profit organisation for sale by them (eg, baking a cake for a sporting club's cake stall fundraiser), you do not need to hold a licence.
Note: if your non-profit organisation does not require a licence (as outlined below), but you want to operate on a temporary basis - eg, a stall or stand at a festival, fete or market - you will need to complete and submit a Notification of Temporary Food Premises ( PDF, 0.4 MB ).
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Note 1: even though a licence may not be required, these types of businesses must ensure the sale of safe and suitable food, and comply with the Food Safety Standards. This includes the design, construction and fit out of the food premises. | |
Note 2: If your non-profit organisation does not require a licence (as outlined above), but you want to operate on a temporary basis (eg, a stall or stand at a festival, fete or market), you will need to complete and submit a Notification of Temporary Food Premises ( PDF, 0.4 MB ). |
Your non-profit organisation may be eligible for a concession on various Council fees and charges. For non-profits wishing to operate a food business, these concessions include venue hire, local law and health licence fees, waste disposal, plumbing applications and development assessment.
Cairns Regional Council defines eligible non-profit organisations as any non-profit, volunteer, charitable, community, sporting and religious organisation that do not manage or operate premises with poker machines and meets the following criteria:
- Non-profit community organisations, as determined by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO); or
- Religious institutions as determined by the ATO; or
- Schools registered with the Queensland Department of Education.
To be considered a non-profit community organisation the following criteria must be satisfied –
- The organisation is incorporated under Queensland’s Associations Incorporation Act 1981 or registered under the Collections Act 1961;
- There is no profit or gain by individual members of the group;
- The organisation’s constitution or governing documents prevent it from distributing profits or assets for the benefit of particular persons, both while it is operating and on winding up, and;
- Whilst a surplus can be made, it must be used to carry out the purpose and functions of the organisation.
Further information in relation to the type of assistance available can be found in Council’s Financial Assistance for NFP Organisations - Fees & Charges Policy ( PDF, 0.16 MB ).
The Queensland Government has produced several handy resources to help guide non-profit organisations:
- Food industry regulation for non-profit organisations - webpage with information on licensing, donating food and food safety advice
- Food Safety for Fundraising Events - simple guidance on food handling, purchasing and transporting food, cleaning and sanitising, and more.
- Food Safety in non-profit organisations - clarification around exemptions for fundraising activities.
Council recognises not-for-profit volunteers have a lot to consider when running a fundraising food stall.
You can now take advantage of Council's free-to-hire portable Handy Wash Station to ensure you always meet the basic hygiene requirements when handling food at your event.
The kit includes:
- A portable hand wash basin with tank for fresh water
- Tank to collect dirty waste water
- Liquid soap
- Paper towel
- Food grade sanitiser
- Probe thermometer
- Temperature record sheet
- Instructions on how to use
Book the Handy Wash Station
- Complete the Handy Wash Station hire booking request online form below. Please note the following:
- Ensure you have evidence of your not-for-profit status and your ABN.
- Select the dates and times, noting the days must be either a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
- Complete and submit the Notification of Temporary Food Premises ( PDF, 0.4 MB ).
- You will receive an email acknowledging your request to book a hand wash station kit. Note: this is not confirmation of your booking.
- If the hand washing kit is available for the time you have requested, you will receive an email confirming availability and instructions on how to collect from the Council at 119-145 Spence Street Cairns. Please ensure you arrive at the arranged time. If you are unable to attend at this time and date, please call 1300 692 247 and ask for Regulatory Admin to notify you are unable to make this time.
Last Updated: 22 September 2023
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