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FOOD SAFETY

ON THIS PAGE:

1. FOOD SAFETY
2. RETAIL FOOD PREMISES
3. NEWSLETTERS & FACT SHEETS
4. FOOD SAFETY SUPERVISOR
5. MOBILE FOOD VENDING
6. TEMPORARY EVENTS
7. FOOD SAFETY AT HOME

1. FOOD SAFETY

Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council work together with the NSW Food Authority to support food retailers and ensure food safety. Council has responsibility to routinely inspect retail food premises and to investigate any concerns raised regarding any food activity within the Council area.

From 8 December 2024 changes to the Food Safety Standards will come into effect: 

The changes will affect – Childrens Services, ie child care centres that provide food, school canteens, supermarkets, green grocers, delicatessens, and other food handling businesses.

Food safety requirements for children’s services in NSW

Standard 3.2.2A guideline for school canteens (nsw.gov.au)

Standard 3.2.2A guideline for food retailers (nsw.gov.au)

Standard 3.2.2A – ​Frequently asked questions​ | NSW Food Authority

Council’s Environmental Health Officer is available to offer professional advice and instruction on food safety matters and can be contacted on 1300 459 689.

2. RETAIL FOOD PREMISES

Take the short quiz to find out which Food Safety Management Tools apply to your business, under the new Standard 3.2.2A in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The new requirements apply from 8 December 2024 for most food handling businesses.

Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety Tools quiz | NSW Food Authority

Food Business registration. All retail food premises must be registered with Council, and businesses must update their registration if there is a change of ownership or food safety supervisor.

Food Business Reg-Update Form 

A reminder that food businesses need to be aware that customers may have a food allergy this link will provide assistance.  Be_Prepared_Be_Allergy_Aware

3. NEWSLETTERS & FACTSHEETS

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4. FOOD SAFETY SUPERVISOR

Food Safety Supervisors (FSS) oversee day-to-day food handling operations and ensure risks are managed. The role of an FSS is to minimise the risk of customers becoming ill from food poisoning because of incorrect handling and preparation of food.

The Food Act 2003 requires certain food businesses in the NSW hospitality and retail food service sector to have at least one trained Food Safety Supervisor who must be readily available and on duty. A copy of the Food Safety Supervisor Certificate must be kept on the premises. If you wish to clarify whether your business requires a Food Safety Supervisor, please see the NSW Food Authority website https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/  or contact Council.

Food Safety Supervisors (FSS) | NSW Food Authority

From 8 December 2024 a requirement for all people involved in food handling are required to have a minimum of food handling basic training this course is FREE on the NSW Food Authority website or click on the link below. The only people exempt are Food Safety Supervisors who are required to have more intensive training.

FREE BASIC TRAINING COURSEFood Handler Basics training | NSW Food Authority

Businesses that require an FSS

All retail, hospitality and food service businesses need to appoint at least one Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) per premises if food they prepare and serve is:

  • ready-to-eat
  • potentially hazardous, that is, needs temperature control
  • NOT sold and served in the supplier’s original package.

Broadly, this includes all businesses selling potentially hazardous food to the public that are not licensed by the Food Authority, such as: cafes, restaurants, quick service venues, takeaway shops, pubs and clubs with food service areas, mobile vendors, home-based businesses, caterers, motels, and supermarkets selling potentially hazardous food (such as hot-chickens). It also includes outlets that sell food through third party ordering apps.

Who can be an FSS

The FSS is nominated by the owner of a food business and may be the business owner, manager, or employee (for example, the chef) provided they:

  • are not an FSS for any other food premises or mobile catering business, and
  • can train and supervise other people in the business to ensure safe food handling occurs (as per the Food Act 2003 –Section 106B(1c)).
  • are reasonably available and be easily contacted (such as by phone).

For a small business, it may be most appropriate for the business owner to be the FSS.

Larger businesses that operate longer hours may choose to nominate several people to be trained and appointed as an FSS to help cover shift work and annual leave.

Exempt Businesses

The following are exempt from the FSS requirement in NSW:

  1. The handling or sale of food for the purpose of raising funds solely for community or charitable causes and providing food free to the community.
  2. Businesses licensed with the NSW Food Authority.
  3. Businesses that only manufacture or wholesale food (such as a manufacturer of bulk ham that is sold packaged to supermarkets) with no direct sale to consumers (other food safety arrangements will apply to these businesses).
  4. Food businesses that are not serving or retailing unpackaged food that is potentially hazardous and ready to eat (such as service stations selling food that remains in its original sealed packaging, a coffee van that only sells food that is not potentially hazardous).

Food businesses that are licensed by the NSW Food Authority will continue to be exempt from the Food Safety Supervisor requirement.

Guideline to Food Safety Supervisor requirements

6. MOBILE FOOD VENDING

A Mobile Food Vending Vehicle is a Food Premises and must comply with the same legislation and standards as other food premises. Copies of the Food Standards Code 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 are available at Homepage | Food Standards Australia New Zealand

All food vending vehicles based within the Council area are required to notify Council and will be placed on Council’s Food Premises Register. A Section 68 Approval to trade on public land, issued under the Local Government Act 1993, is required before you can operate on any public or Council land in the Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council area. Before Council issues the Approval, Council staff will inspect the vehicle to ensure that the construction and fit out meets the requirements of the Food Act and the Food Safety Standards. Application forms to Operate a Mobile Vending Vehicle are available from Council.

From 8 December 2024 all mobile food vending outlets must have a nominated Food Safety Supervisor when operating.

Food Safety Supervisors (FSS) | NSW Food Authority

MOBILE-FOOD-VENDING.pdf (nsw.gov.au)

Guidelines for mobile food vending vehicles (nsw.gov.au)

7. TEMPORARY EVENTS

The NSW Food Authority has developed an extensive range of resources for food businesses, including factsheets, guides policies, forms and templates. The information on the NSW Food Authority is regularly reviewed and updated, see the NSW Food Authority website https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/

Inspections – Inspections of retail food premises are based of the FPAR (Food Premises Assessment Report) which is a standard checklist for compliance with the Food Standards Code used across NSW. The FPAR also features a points system to determine a hygiene and food safety score, which relates to the Scores on Doors program.

Temporary events may need a Section 68 Approval or a Development Application (DA), please contact Council to discuss your event. 1300 459 689.

8. FOOD SAFETY AT HOME

Food Safety is just as important at home as in restaurants. For further information on how you can keep you and your family safe see the NSW food Authority website here https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumer/food-at-home