Food Safety

Overview

All permanent and temporary food businesses must obtain approval from Council in order to operate. In most cases, Council must approve a Development Application and issue a Construction Certificate before any work is carried out on a food premises, or before trading begins.

Food safety practices are essential for the health and safety of our community. To minimise the potentially serious impact upon the health and wellbeing of the community, as well as the financial viability of their business, food business operators must ensure that relevant food safety standards and requirements are satisfied at all times. Council's Environmental Health Officers carry out inspections of food businesses and enforce compliance with the requirements and standards.

A large proportion of food-borne illness is caused by poor food handling practices. It is extremely important that all food handlers and supervisors have the appropriate skills and knowledge in food hygiene. It is also important that food premises are maintained in a clean and sanitary condition to minimise potential contamination of food from dirt, grease, bacteria and other substances.

Approval Requirements

The design, construction and fit-out of food premises is very important in satisfying the relevant standards and ensuring good food-handling practices, health and hygiene.

Food premises include:

  • restaurants
  • cafés
  • take-away food outlets
  • supermarkets
  • convenience stores
  • coffee and cake shops
  • kiosks
  • canteens
  • commercial kitchens
  • hotel bars and bistros
  • caterers
  • any other premises used for the sale, storage, preparation or manufacturing of food.

In most cases, Council must approve a Development Application  and issue a Construction Certificate before any work is carried out on a food premises, or before trading begins. In some cases, for example, if a retail food business is located in a business zone and satisfies certain requirements, a Complying Development Certificate may be all that Council requires.

All food premises must be designed, constructed and operated in accordance with the following requirements:

A suitably qualified and experienced architect or designer should be used for the design, construction and fit-out of food premises.

Food Safety Standards

To maintain appropriate levels of public health and safety in our community, all permanent and temporary food premises must satisfy the food safety requirements and standards at all times.

For detailed information, please refer to the information, standards and fact sheets provided by Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the NSW Food Authority.

Fact Sheets and Guidelines are available on the NSW Food Authority website.

Food Businesses

Local Councils across NSW entered into a partnership agreement with the NSW Food Authority in 2008/2009 to undertake a range of responsibilities and to administer the provisions of the NSW Food Act 2003.

Council Food Inspections

Temora Shire Council undertakes inspections of all premises that sell and handle food to ensure compliance with:

Food premises inspections are undertaken by Councils Environmental Health Officers, their role is to protect the health and safety of the community by ensuring that food stored, prepared and sold to the public is safe to consume.

Food Premises Construction and Fit-Out GuideAs a guide you can refer to the Food premises design, construction and fit-out guide (PDF 4.41MB) produced by the Southeast Queensland Food Safety and Public Health Working group. This document interprets AS 4674 and FSANZ 'Food Standards Code' requirements for shops and food premises, construction and set up.

Food Safety Supervisor

Most food businesses must appoint an accredited Food Safety Supervisor in accordance with the Food Act and notify Council accordingly. A Food Safety Supervisor helps the business comply with the relevant food safety requirements and standards at all times.

For more information on the Food Safety Supervisor requirements please visit NSW Food Authority.

Business Notification & Registration

Registering your Food Premises with Council

All retail food premises are required to be registered with Council and are subject to routine food safety inspections. Details are also required to be updated with Council when a food business changes proprietor.

There is no fee to register a permanent food business with Council. Council's Environmental Health Officers carry out inspections of food business at least on an annual basis, which are subject to an Inspection fee, in accordance with Council's Fees & Charges(PDF, 1MB) .

Notification of Food Premises

In addition to registering with Council, all food businesses are also required, under the National Food Standards, to notify the appropriate enforcement agency of certain information associated with the operation of the business.

In NSW the appropriate enforcement agency is the NSW Food Authority.

Scores on Doors

Scores on Doors is the NSW hygiene and food safety scoring program that displays the results of food premises regular inspections.

The promotional program recognises and celebrates how well local restaurants, takeaway shops, bakeries, pub bistros and cafes are complying with NSW hygiene and food safety requirements.

Temora Shire Council's Environmental Health Officers frequently visit food businesses to ensure hygiene standards are being met.

When a food business achieves good to excellent standards, at an unannounced inspection, they are awarded a star rating by the inspector. A certificate is then issued by Randwick City Council and positioned in a highly visible place for customers, usually in the front window or door of the business.

This is a voluntary program in conjunction with the NSW Food Authority Scores on Doors Program designed to promote food safety and hygiene requirements. Not all food businesses are listed. If a food business is unlisted, this is not necessarily a reflection or a statement on its hygiene standards.

Ratings

Excellent (5 star rating)

Excellent 5 stars. Hygiene and food safety

The business has achieved the highest level of compliance with food safety standards.

 

Very Good (4 star rating)

Very good 4 stars. Hygiene and food safety score

The business has very good safety practices in place. Some minor areas where standards were not meet will need to be addressed.

 

Good (3 star rating)

Good rating 3 stars. Hygiene and food safety score

The business has a good standard of food compliance. A number of areas, although not serious, need to be corrected.