Food Safety Program

Overview

All food businesses must ensure that food sold or prepared for sale is safe for human consumption.

On 1 July 2010, Victoria introduced a new food business classification system which seeks to better match regulation with the food safety risk that different food business activities pose to public health.

Victoria’s new food regulatory system features new food business classifications, additional guidance materials and educational resources, and updated templates that businesses can use to develop their food safety programs.

A food safety program is simply a written plan that shows what a business does to ensure that the food it sells is safe for human consumption. It is an important tool for helping businesses that handle, process or sell potentially hazardous foods maintain safe food handling practices and protect the public’s health.

When you register your food premises, or notify council about your food activities, we will determine your classification based on the food safety risk of the type of foods you handle. You will only need a food safety program if your premises is class 1 or class 2.

Food businesses must contact council before commencing or altering their food activities to determine their classification and whether they need a food safety program.

If you plan to alter the type of food you handle, it may alter the class of your food premises.

For more information, about this, refer to the information flyers for food premises at  New business classes or contact council.

Food businesses can develop their own food safety program using a registered food safety program template or an independent ('non-standard') program that is developed specifically for the premises.

Food Safety Templates

For those businesses that choose to use a template developed by the Department of Health, a new simplified Department of Health for retail and food service businesses is available to download or you can buy a template from Council.

For more information see Food safety program templates.

Class 1 premises

Class 1 food businesses must have a food safety program, this continues to be an "independent" non-standard food safety program that is tailored to take into account the food handling activities at the premises.

Class 2 premises

Class 2 food premises will continue to have more choice in how they develop their food safety programs. They can either have a food safety program that is:

• completed using any suitable template registered with the Department of Health, or
• an independent ('non-standard') program that is developed specifically for the premises.

For those businesses that choose to use a template developed by the Department of Health, a new simplified Department of Health

Food safety program template for class 2 retail and food service businesses no.1, version 2 is now available.

This new version 2 template is only registered under the Act as suitable for creating a standard food safety program for a class 2 food premises that is operated by a food business which -

• retails food to the public, or
• is a 'food service business'.

Class 3 and Class 4 food premises – no food safety program

Due to the lower food safety risk associated with the food handling activities at these premises, class 3 and 4 food premises do not need a food safety program.

However, they must still ensure that the food they sell is safe. For further information about the requirements that apply to class 3 and 4 premises, go to New food premises classification system.

This flyer provides more information on what the changes to the Food Act mean for class 3 businesses:

• Making food safety your business: Information for class 3 premises

This flyer provides more information on what the changes to the Food Act mean for class 4 businesses:

• Making food safety your business: Information for class 4 premises

Events Food Safety Program Template

The Events Template for events, one-off events, temporary stalls, festivals and community groups is available below.

Links

• Victorian government PDF brochure Three easy steps to using a Food Safety Program template
• Food Safety Program Template additional records : download