Food Seller Policy
Requirements for selling food and beverage products on Souq by HalalHQ
Regulatory Disclaimer
Food safety laws and regulations are subject to change. While we strive to keep this policy current, you are responsible for ensuring compliance with the latest laws and regulations.
Always check official government sources for the most up-to-date requirements:
Important: This Policy is Mandatory
This Food Seller Policy is a condition of selling food products on Souq and operates in addition to our general Marketplace Terms & Conditions. Non-compliance may result in listing removal or account suspension.
1. What This Policy Covers
This policy applies to any product intended to be eaten or drunk, including:
- Packaged foods (snacks, drinks, confectionery, pantry items)
- Fresh or frozen foods
- Home-prepared foods
- Food kits or mixes that produce an edible product
- Beverages (including tea, coffee, juices)
If you're unsure whether your product requires compliance with this policy, contact us before listing.
2. Legal Compliance Requirements
✓ Food Business Registration (Mandatory)
All food sellers must be registered as a food business with their local council before selling on Souq.
- Victoria: Register via FoodTrader (the statewide registration tool)
- Other states/territories: Contact your local council's environmental health department
- This applies to all food businesses, including home-based kitchens
Australian Food Laws You Must Comply With:
- Food Act 1984 (Vic) or equivalent state/territory food safety legislation
- Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – sets food safety and labelling requirements (FSANZ)
- Any local council conditions, inspections, or classifications that apply to your food business
Food safety training: We strongly recommend completing food handler training such as DoFoodSafely (free in Victoria) to ensure you understand safe food handling, hygiene, and allergen management.
3. Allergen Disclosure (Critical for Buyer Safety)
⚠️ MANDATORY: You must clearly disclose ALL allergens in your products
Allergen information protects buyers with food allergies and intolerances. Failure to disclose allergens is a serious safety violation and may result in immediate account suspension.
Major Allergens You MUST Declare (FSANZ Requirements):
Cross-Contamination Warnings:
If your kitchen or production area also handles allergens (even if not in this specific product), you must include a warning:
"Produced in a kitchen that also handles [nuts / gluten / dairy / etc.]"
✓ How to Display Allergen Information in Your Listing:
- Include allergen information in your product description
- Use clear, bold formatting (e.g., "Contains: Peanuts, Gluten, Milk")
- Upload a photo of the product label showing allergen information
- If your product is allergen-free, state this clearly (e.g., "Gluten-free", "Nut-free")
4. Product Labelling Requirements
Even when selling online, you must provide the same information that would appear on a physical product label. This ensures buyers can make informed purchasing decisions.
Required Information in Every Food Listing:
Product Name
The name of the food product (e.g., "Organic Honey", "Salted Caramel Cookies")
Full Ingredients List
All ingredients in descending order by weight (largest first)
Allergen Information
See Section 3 above – must be clearly stated
Net Quantity
Weight (g, kg) or volume (mL, L) of the product
Storage Instructions
E.g., "Keep refrigerated", "Store in a cool dry place", "Keep frozen"
Best-Before or Use-By Date
Best-before: Product quality date (food is still safe after, but may lose quality)
Use-by: Safety date (food must not be sold/eaten after this date)
Country of Origin
Where the product was made or grown (if required by Food Standards Code)
Business Name & Contact Details
Your registered food business name and contact information
Nutrition Information Panel (if required)
Most packaged foods require a nutrition information panel showing energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, sodium, etc.
5. Food Safety & Packaging Standards
Food Safety Requirements:
- All food products must be safe to eat – not spoiled, contaminated, or adulterated
- Food must be produced, stored, transported, and handled in a hygienic manner
- Comply with Chapter 3 of the Food Standards Code (food safety practices and general requirements)
- Maintain appropriate temperature control for chilled or frozen products
Packaging Standards:
All packaging materials must comply with Standard 3.2.2 of the Food Standards Code:
- Use only food-safe packaging materials (no risk of contamination)
- Packaging must be fit for its intended purpose
- Ensure food cannot become contaminated during the packaging process
- Use secure, protective packaging to prevent damage during shipping
Best Practice: Temperature-Controlled Products
If you sell chilled or frozen items, you must use insulated packaging (e.g., insulated boxes, ice packs, dry ice) and choose shipping methods that maintain safe temperatures throughout transit.
6. Shipping & Delivery Guidelines
Shelf-Life Management:
You must only ship food products that can be delivered within their safe shelf-life:
- Calculate delivery time + expected transit time
- Ensure the product's use-by or best-before date allows adequate time for delivery and consumption
- Example: If a product has a 7-day shelf-life and shipping takes 3 days, the buyer only has 4 days to consume it – consider whether this is reasonable
Carrier Requirements:
You are responsible for:
- Choosing carriers that permit food shipments (some carriers have restrictions)
- Checking carrier rules for perishable items, chilled/frozen goods, or liquids
- Ensuring packaging prevents contamination, spoilage, and damage during transit
- Selecting delivery speeds appropriate for the product's shelf-life (e.g., overnight for highly perishable items)
⚠️ High-Risk Products
Souq may prohibit or restrict products that require strict cold-chain control or present elevated safety risks (e.g., raw milk products, unpasteurized items, fresh meat), even if permitted by law in some jurisdictions.
7. Prohibited & Restricted Food Products
Souq may prohibit or restrict the following, even if technically legal in some jurisdictions:
❌ Prohibited Products:
- Raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products
- Products clearly in breach of the Food Standards Code or local laws
- Food prepared in unregistered or unsuitable environments
- Products with inadequate allergen or ingredient information
- Products making extreme or unsubstantiated health/therapeutic claims (e.g., "cures diabetes")
- Products that do not meet Souq's halal and faith-aligned guidelines
⚠️ Restricted (Requires Approval):
- Fresh or frozen meat, poultry, seafood
- Products requiring strict temperature control throughout delivery
- Alcoholic beverages (prohibited on Souq due to halal policy)
- Products with very short shelf-life (less than 7 days)
If you're unsure whether your product is permitted, contact us before listing.
8. Halal & Faith-Aligned Claims
Where you describe a food product as "halal", "zabiha", "shariah compliant", or similar, you must ensure:
- The claim is truthful and not misleading, consistent with Australian Consumer Law
- You comply with any relevant halal certification requirements if you reference a certifier
- You can provide supporting documentation on request (e.g., halal certificate, supplier information)
- Ingredients and production methods genuinely align with halal standards
Note: Souq may request additional documentation or remove listings that make unclear or potentially misleading halal claims. See our full Halal Content Guidelines for more details.
9. Seller Warranties & Responsibilities
By listing food products on Souq, you warrant that:
- You are a properly registered/notified food business and hold all required approvals and licences
- All food products comply with the Food Standards Code and relevant state/territory/local requirements
- All information in your listings (ingredients, allergens, halal claims, origin, storage, expiry) is complete, accurate, and not misleading
- You will maintain food safety standards throughout production, storage, and dispatch
Indemnity:
You agree to indemnify Souq (and its owners/affiliates) for any loss, claim, or damage arising from:
- Your breach of this Policy or any applicable law
- Any illness, injury, or damage alleged to be caused by a food product you sold
- Any regulatory action taken against you or Souq due to your non-compliance
10. Monitoring & Enforcement
Souq may:
- Request proof of your food business registration, inspection reports, or licences at any time
- Suspend or remove food product listings that appear non-compliant or unsafe
- Suspend or terminate your seller account where serious or repeated breaches occur
- Report serious food safety concerns to relevant authorities
Buyers and community members may report concerns about food products (e.g., incorrect allergen information, suspected safety issues). We investigate all reports and take action at our discretion.
Quick Compliance Checklist
Before listing any food product, confirm:
Important Legal Disclaimer
This policy is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Food safety laws and regulations change regularly, and requirements may vary by state, territory, and local council.
You are solely responsible for:
- Ensuring your food business complies with all current federal, state, and local laws
- Verifying requirements with your local council and official government sources
- Keeping up-to-date with regulatory changes that affect your business
- Seeking professional legal or regulatory advice when needed
HalalHQ is not responsible for your compliance with food safety laws. Non-compliance can result in fines, legal action, and business closure by authorities.
Official Government Resources:
• FSANZ: foodstandards.gov.au
• Victoria Food Safety: health.vic.gov.au/food-safety
• FoodTrader (VIC): foodtrader.vic.gov.au
• Your Local Council: Contact your council's environmental health department
Related Policies:
Questions about this policy? Contact our seller support team