Food Safety Supervisor Requirements

The Food Act 2003 requires most retail food businesses (i.e. restaurants, cafes, takeaway shops, caterers, pubs, hotels, mobile food vendors etc.) to have at least one trained Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) appointed.  The FSS must attain the required units of competency from an approved RTO under the NSW Food Authority’s program.  Once they have completed the required training they will receive a certificate from the RTO.  The certificate expires 5 years from the date of issue and will need to be renewed prior to the expiry date.

You must keep a copy of the FSS certificate on the premise and be able to produce a copy of it for inspection. There are also on-the-spot fines and penalties for failing to appoint a Food Safety Supervisor.

Approved training providers can be found at NSW Food Authority.

Exempt food businesses that do not need to appoint a Food Safety Supervisor include:

  • Coffee vendors that only heat milk.
  • Not-for-profit community and charitable causes.
  • School canteens (primary or secondary).
  • Boarding schools.
  • Children’s service (childcare centres).
  • Out of school hours care services.
  • Correctional centres.
  • Supermarkets (if heated food is not sold).
  • Food business premises that only do one or more of the following activities only:
    • Slice fermented meats and smallgoods, or both
    • Slice or portion cheese, or both
    • Process raw seafood.
    • Slice or portion fruit and vegetables, or both.

All other retail food businesses need to appoint a Food Safety Supervisor. 

 

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