Food Safety Programs

Food safety programs are a written plan for food businesses to show that they handle, prepare and store food in a safe manner. Class 1 and 2 food businesses must keep an updated food safety program and records on premises at all times. This will be checked during Council inspections. The Department of Health website provides a Food Safety Template for class 2 businesses that can be developed by each business according to their specific food practises.

Class 3 food businesses are not required to have a food safety program but instead must keep minimum records for temperature checks and supplier records. These records will be checked during Council inspections. Printable record sheets are located on the Department of Health website.

Class 4 food businesses do not have to complete a food safety program or records as their food activity poses low risk to public health, however all members have a responsibility to ensure that the food the sell or prepare for sale is safe to eat. The Department of Health provides food safety information for Class 4 food businesses.

Food Safety Supervisor

Owners of registered food businesses, Class 1 and 2, must ensure those who handle food within their business handle foods safely. To ensure this happens, the owner must nominate a Food Safety Supervisor, who has the responsibility of recognising, preventing and alleviating the hazards associated with food handling in your workplace.

To comply with these requirements, the nominated Food Safety Supervisor must also hold a Statement of Attainment issued by a Registered Training Organisation (such as Food Safety Australia). There are severe penalties for not having a suitably trained Food Safety Supervisor.

Safe food handling is important for everyone, further information can be found in the Related Information section at the bottom of this page.

If you are unsure of the class your food business falls in visit our Food Business Classification page.