Requirements for selling food and beverage products on Souq by HalalHQ
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:
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.
This policy applies to any product intended to be eaten or drunk, including:
If you're unsure whether your product requires compliance with this policy, contact us before listing.
All food sellers must be registered as a food business with their local council before selling on Souq.
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.
⚠️ 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.
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.]"
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.
The name of the food product (e.g., "Organic Honey", "Salted Caramel Cookies")
All ingredients in descending order by weight (largest first)
See Section 3 above – must be clearly stated
Weight (g, kg) or volume (mL, L) of the product
E.g., "Keep refrigerated", "Store in a cool dry place", "Keep frozen"
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)
Where the product was made or grown (if required by Food Standards Code)
Your registered food business name and contact information
Most packaged foods require a nutrition information panel showing energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, sodium, etc.
All packaging materials must comply with Standard 3.2.2 of the Food Standards Code:
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.
You must only ship food products that can be delivered within their safe shelf-life:
You are responsible for:
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.
Souq may prohibit or restrict the following, even if technically legal in some jurisdictions:
If you're unsure whether your product is permitted, contact us before listing.
Where you describe a food product as "halal", "zabiha", "shariah compliant", or similar, you must ensure:
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.
By listing food products on Souq, you warrant that:
You agree to indemnify Souq (and its owners/affiliates) for any loss, claim, or damage arising from:
Souq may:
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.
Before listing any food product, confirm:
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:
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
Questions about this policy? Contact our seller support team