Are you thinking of starting or taking over a food business and not sure where to begin when it comes to food safety compliance? Well, we are here to help point you in the right direction.
Firstly, it's important to understand your business's legal obligations BEFORE you open for business. This will ensure the food you sell is safe, your business meets the required legal standards and ultimately save you time and money in the long run.
Even though every food business in Australia must comply with the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code, each state or territory has its own legislation, including registration and or licensing requirements. So your local food authority (e.g. your local council) is the best place to find out exactly what's required to start and operate your business. Local laws will also need to be considered.
Before you call your local food authority it is a good idea to think about what questions to ask in order to speed up the process and determine your food safety requirements faster.
To save you time we have put together 10 questions to ask your local food authority.
| 1. Do I need to notify, register, or obtain a license for my food business? |
| 2. Are there any fees associated? |
| 3. What is my proposed food business's classification? |
| 4. Does my food business require a food safety program or management system? |
| 5. How often will my food business be audited, assessed, or inspected? |
| 6. Who can I contact if I have any food safety queries or concerns (e.g. a local Environmental Health Officer (EHO))? |
| 7. Does my business need trained staff such as a qualified Food Safety Supervisor? If so, what qualifications do they require? |
| 8. Does my business require a 3rd party audit? If so, where can I find a list of certified auditors? |
| 9. Are there food premises design and construction guidelines available? |
| 10. Can I use a template food safety program and where can find one? |
Once you have determined exactly what you need to ask, all you need to do is contact your local food authority. Contact information for each state and territory are listed here.
We also understand it can also be daunting to find the right training, equipment and service providers to ensure compliance. Whether you're looking for the right training course, thermometer, sanitiser, pest control service, or anything else that will assist your compliance, we can help you find the best suppliers in your area. Simply tell us what you need and we'll do the rest.
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