Food safety program
In Victoria, all class 1 and most class 2 food premises need a food safety program.
A food safety program is a written plan that shows what a business does to ensure that the food it sells is safe for people to eat. This is necessary to maintain safe food handling practices and protect public health.
Class 1 businesses usually use a tailored, independent food safety program that considers all the food handling activities at the premises.
Most Class 2 businesses use a registered template; however some may need to use an independent, audited program if their activities are not covered by a template. Most businesses choose to use the department-developed Foodsmart template.
Note: If a food business uses an independent food safety program, the proprietor must arrange for audits to be conducted by an approved auditor.
Food safety supervisor
A food safety supervisor’s role in a business is to recognise, prevent and lessen hazards linked with the handling of food.
All Class 1, most Class 2 and Class 3A food businesses must have a food safety supervisor who has completed training with a registered training organisation. Note that charities or not-for-profit groups running class 2 activities are not legally required to have a food safety supervisor if:
- those handling the food are mostly volunteers, and
- the food activity takes place at the site for a maximum of two consecutive days at any one time.
For further information on course codes visit the Department of Health's website.