Shellharbour City Council would like to advise new food safety requirements from the NSW Food Authority will apply to school canteens, childcare centres, supermarkets, coffee vendors selling food and boarding schools next month.
The national standard mandating staff training and risk management procedures was enforceable to most food businesses from 8 December 2023, however, some business types in NSW received a 12-month extension and now have just weeks left to prepare.
The rules only apply to businesses that sell or serve ready to eat unpackaged food that needs to be kept hot or cold to stay safe – packaged food, and products like confectionary and cakes, are generally not captured.
Most outlets need to arrange formal Food Safety Supervisor training for at least one person in the business and ensure all food handlers have general food safety skills and knowledge.
Caption: New food safety requirements are in place from December 8. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council.
Higher-risk businesses must also be able to show they are managing key food safety risks.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾r says the standard is important to ensuring the health and safety of the community.
“Residents, visitors and workers in Shellharbour demand a high level of safety from all food providers no matter the size or scope of the business,” he said.
“We know the vast majority of our local food businesses take food safety seriously. These new measures further strengthen practices and processes to ensure our consumers can continue to enjoy their food knowing it’s safe to eat.”
Mayor ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾r says Council will take an educative approach with local businesses as they transition to the new requirements.
