AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY MARKET OPERATORS HANDBOOK SECTION

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY — MARKET OPERATORS HANDBOOK SECTION (Information resource only — no legal or operational advice) A. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS (ACT) 1. Public / Unleased Public Land (public spaces, streets, footpaths, parks) To trade on unleased public land (e.g. using a vehicle, van, trailer, or cart trading goods/food) a valid Hawker's Permit is required under the Public Unleased Land Act 2013. Access Canberra+1 Eligibility for a Hawker's Permit requires the holder to have current public liability insurance for at least AUD 20,000,000, naming the ACT Government (or relevant authority) as an “interested party.” ABLis 2. Private or Leased Land / Established Markets & Event Spaces For food businesses operating as fixed premises, temporary stall, or within private/leased land, insurance requirements depend on the business structure — public liability insurance is commonly required, particularly if there is public attendance or risk of third-party claims. ACT Government+2Access Canberra+2 For registered food businesses (including mobile or temporary food stalls), compliance with food-safety regulations under the Food Act 2001 (ACT) is required, and operators must ensure appropriate registration, safety compliance, and risk mitigation. ACT Government+2Access Canberra+2 B. STALL LAYOUTS & SITE DESIGN Because the ACT regulatory frameworks focus primarily on food safety, registration, and land-use permits (rather than detailed universal “stall-layout standards”), the requirements depend on the event type, location (public land vs private/leased land), and whether a food business registration or Hawker’s Permit applies. The main known constraints include: 1. When operating under a Food Business or Event Registration / Hawker’s Permit For food stalls at “declared events,” operators must comply with the operational requirements specified in the ACT’s food-safety and event registration guidelines. A valid Health Protection Service (HPS) registration or event-based registration must be displayed. ACT Government+2Access Canberra+2 For mobile food vendors or stalls trading on public land under a Hawker’s Permit, layout must permit safe set-up, likely including safe access, structural safety of the vehicle/stall, and food-handling compliance according to food-safety standards (see Section F). The broader national guidelines for temporary food premises apply as well. Food Standards Australia New Zealand+2Access Canberra+2 2. On Private or Leased Land / Markets at Established Venues For food businesses operating from fixed or semi-permanent premises under the Food Act 2001 registration, stall layout / premises must comply with the premises-fit-out, food-safety, hygiene, and building standards required by HPS. ACT Government+2ACT Government+2 For non-food stalls (e.g. craft, retail, non-perishable goods) layout/site-design requirements depend on the property owner, venue lease agreement, and any local government or event-permit obligations — not uniformly regulated under ACT-wide “market layout” rules, but subject to general safety, public-space and planning law if public land used. C. TRAFFIC FLOW (PEDESTRIAN & VEHICLE) Because events and markets in ACT involve mixed possible land-use scenarios (public/unleased land, leased land, private property), traffic flow regulation depends on the permit type and location. Known constraints: 1. Public / Unleased Public Land (Hawker / mobile-vendor trading) Trading on unleased public land using vehicles or mobile stalls requires a valid Hawker’s Permit. Access Canberra+1 When trading with a vehicle/trailer/van, any vehicle access, setup, and breakdown must comply with conditions set in the permit — possibly restricting where and when vehicles may park or operate, to avoid obstructing public paths and traffic. (As per broader references around event permits and road/land-use law when public spaces are used.) ABLis+2Access Canberra+2 2. Private / Leased Land or Established Venues For markets or stalls on private or leased land, pedestrian and vehicle flow is subject to the landowner’s site-planning, venue layout, and any applicable lease or venue-use agreement. There is no universal ACT-wide traffic-flow guideline for such events beyond general safety, building and planning regulations. If access requires use of public roads or public spaces (e.g. parking, loading/unloading, public entry), applicable permits under public-space use laws or event-approval protocols may be triggered. For example, if using unleased public land for any portion, a Hawker’s Permit or other “use-of-public-land” permit is required. ABLis+2Access Canberra+2 D. APPROVAL / REGISTRATION PROCESSES (Food, Events, Trading in Public Spaces) 1. Food Business Registration & Temporary Event/Food Stall Registration Under the Food Act 2001 (ACT), food businesses — including permanent premises, mobile food vehicles, and temporary stalls — must register with ACT’s Health Protection Service (HPS). ACT Government+2ACT Government+2 For a “declared event” (e.g. markets, festivals, temporary food stalls), operators selling food must complete a “Declared Event Food Business Registration” at least 14 days before the event. ACT Government+1 A Declared Event Registration Certificate is issued upon approval and must be displayed at the stall during the event. ACT Government All food stalls at events must have a designated Food Safety Supervisor present (or “reasonably available”) during the event to ensure food-safety compliance. ACT Government+1 2. Trading on Public Spaces — Hawker’s Permit for Unleased Public Land For sale of goods (food or other) from a vehicle, van, trailer, or from one’s person on unleased public land (roads, parks, footpaths), a Hawker’s Permit is required under the Public Unleased Land Act 2013. Access Canberra+1 Hawker’s Permits in ACT are free. Access Canberra+1 The permit requires the operator to hold the required public liability insurance (see Section A). ABLis+1 3. Special Cases: Events or Markets in Leased Premises or Private Land For markets within leased or private venues (e.g. indoor markets, private property, commercial event spaces), food–business registration under the Food Act applies; additional permits (public-space permits) likely not required unless public land is used. Access Canberra+2ACT Government+2 If alcohol is sold, or there is public entertainment / licensing required, appropriate additional permits/licences apply under ACT law (not detailed here). Handmade Canberra+1 E. VOLUNTEERS vs STAFF Because ACT’s regulatory framework focuses on food-business registration, health and safety, and public-space trading permits, the distinction between volunteers and staff is not codified in a single “market-operation law.” Instead: For any food stall at a declared event, the stall must have a Food Safety Supervisor regardless of whether food handlers are volunteers or paid staff. ACT Government+1 Food business registration applies regardless of whether the business is profit-driven, community-based, or nonprofit — relevant obligations (food safety, hygiene, registration) remain. ACT Government+2Access Canberra+2 Food safety, liability insurance, compliance with Food Standards, and display of registration documentation are required equally for all sellers. F. SAFETY, FOOD-SAFETY & EVENT-RELATED REQUIREMENTS 1. Food Safety for Temporary Stalls / Markets / Events Temporary food premises (e.g. stalls, tents, mobile food vans) in ACT must comply with the national Food Standards Code (via the Food Act 2001). This includes Standards for premises, equipment, food handling, hygiene, and labelling. ACT Government+2Food Standards Australia New Zealand+2 For declared events: all stalls must have a Food Safety Supervisor during the event; the registration certificate must be displayed. ACT Government+1 For mobile food vendors trading under Hawker’s Permit, event-specific safety and public-space compliance must be met. Licensing and permit processes via Access Canberra manage public-space use, hygiene, and safety when trading on unleased public land. Access Canberra+2Access Canberra+2 2. Land-Use, Public-Space & Event-Use Compliance Trading on unleased public land requires compliance with the Public Unleased Land Act 2013 via a Hawker’s Permit. Access Canberra For markets/events on private/leased land, compliance with the Food Act (if food is sold) and any lease/venue regulations applies; no universal ACT-wide “market-event permit” framework applies beyond food registration and public-space permits for unleased land. If alcohol is involved, separate licensing under liquor regulation applies; food + alcohol vendors must ensure compliance with relevant ACT liquor and hospitality laws. Handmade Canberra+1 REFERENCE LIBRARY — AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (Official Links) ACT Government — Selling food at an event (Event / market stall food-business registration) https://www.act.gov.au/business/health-licenses-and-inspections/food-businesses-and-events-registration/selling-food-at-an-event ACT Government ACT Government — Start a food business (Food Business Registration under Food Act 2001) https://www.act.gov.au/business/start-a-food-a-business ACT Government+1 ACT Government / Access Canberra — Food businesses and events registration, including registration forms and guidance https://www.act.gov.au/business/health-licenses-and-inspections/food-businesses-and-events-registration ACT Government+1 ACT Government — Hawker's Permit (Trading on unleased public land) eligibility requirements including insurance coverage https://ablis.business.gov.au/service/act/hawkers-permit/41673 ABLis+1 Federal / National standards for temporary food premises (applies to ACT as well) — Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Temporary Food Premises guidance https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/food-safety/temporary-food-premises Food Standards Australia New Zealand+1 Access Canberra — Event coordination guide (includes market/event-stall frameworks) https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/2311120/Access-Canberra-Event-Coordination-Guide.pdf Access Canberra ACT-specific Food Stall Guidelines for temporary food stalls / markets (Food-safety & event context) https://southernharvest.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ACT-Food-stall-guidelines-2017.pdf southernharvest.org.au