Food Safety Supervisor
Retail food businesses such as restaurants, cafés, takeaway shops, caterers, bakeries are required to have a trained Food Safety Supervisor in their business if food they prepare and serve is ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous (i.e. needs temperature control) and NOT sold and served in the supplier’s original package.
The aim of the food safety supervisor is to prevent individuals from becoming ill from food poisoning as a result of incorrect handling and preparation of food. An appointed Food Safety Supervisor may be required at times during routine food inspections and must have their FSS certificate on the food premises at all times.
FSS training will only be recognised if it is delivered by a Registered Training Organisation that has been approved by the NSW Food Authority. These organisations are published on the NSW Food Authority’s website.
Food Safety Officer Recertification Training
Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) certificates expire 5 years from the date of issue. Any food businesses that have an appointed FSS and their certificate is due to expire will need to enrol them in recertification training with an approved Registered Training Organisation under the FSS program.
Under certain circumstances, the Registered Training Organisation can take into account the applicant’s prior learning, while still providing training in the three key focus areas.
For further information on Food Safety Supervisors, visit NSW Food Authority – FSS or call the helpline on 1300 552 406, or email at food.contact@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
Mandatory Changes to the NSW Food Laws – Food Safety Supervisor Certificate:
Recent changes to the Food Standards Code have introduced new food safety requirements for cafes, restaurants, retail outlets and mobile and temporary food providers.
The Standard applies to all food businesses that handle unpackaged, ready-to-eat food that is potentially hazardous, in the final stages before consumers eat it.
A food business may be a commercial, charitable or community enterprise or activity, or involve the handling or sale of food on one occasion only. It does not include primary food production.
General examples of affected businesses include:
- restaurants, cafés, pubs and hotels
- takeaway shops, mobile food vendors, juice bars and coffee vendors
- caterers that serve food directly to consumers
- supermarkets and delis
- childcare services that provide food.
In NSW, a range of business types are currently exempt from the Food Safety Supervisor requirement. This will no longer be the case when Standard 3.2.2A takes effect from 8 December 2023. These outlets include:
- charities and not-for-profit organisations
- school canteens
- childcare services, including out of school hours care
- correctional centres
- delicatessens
- supermarkets.
From Friday 8 December 2023, food service, caterer and related retail businesses in Australia that process unpackaged, potentially hazardous food, and serve it ready-to-eat are required to:
- have a qualified onsite Food Safety Supervisor, who is reasonably available to supervise food handlers (this is already a requirement for some of these of businesses),
- ensure all food handlers are trained in food safety and hygiene, or can demonstrate adequate skills and knowledge, and
- maintain a record of their food safety risk management or be able to show their food is safe.
Under the new law, you are required to have a food safety supervisor on shift for all hours your business operates.
To ensure you meet the new requirements, the following information is provided:
Step 1 – Ensure relevant staff have undertaken food safety supervisor training from an NSW Food Authority approved training organisation:
https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/retail/fss-food-safety-supervisors/training-organisations
Step 2 – Once training is completed, you will need to request a Food Safety Supervisor Certificate through Service NSW:
https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/retail/fss-food-safety-supervisors/training-organisations
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