Council food inspections

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

• Food Act 2003
• Food Regulation 2010
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Food Standards Code

There are more than 640 permanent food businesses operating in the Randwick local government area. 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.

Our role in enforcing food laws

Council has an educational and regulatory role in enforcing the food laws. Council officers have a number of options when dealing with breaches of the food laws, ranging from a verbal direction to court proceedings or closure of the business, depending on the nature and extent of the breach.

Maintaining adequate standards of food safety and preventing a potential food poisoning incident is of significant importance to business operators and the general community. All food businesses must maintain the highest standard of food safety at all times.

If a food business does not comply with the relevant requirements and standards, Council officers may take one or more of the following actions:

• Issue a verbal or written direction to undertake specified work or to do other things to comply with the requirements and standards
• Issue a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN is an on-the-spot fine)
• Commence legal action in the Local Court
• Issue an Improvement Notice to require work to be done within a specified period
• Issue a Prohibition Order to require the mandatory closure of a business until a further inspection discloses a satisfactory outcome. A Prohibition Order can also apply to an unsatisfactory food vehicle or a specific appliance
• Seize item(s) of food which are considered unsafe for human consumption
• Issue a Notice and Order under Section 124 of the Local Government Act 1993.

Food premises construction and fit-out guide

As a guide you can refer to the Food premises design, construction and fit-out guide PDF, 4515.35 KB 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 Handler Basics Training

Food service, caterer and related retail businesses in Australia need to meet new food safety requirements in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) from 8 December 2023.

Standard 3.2.2A is a new food safety standard for these types of businesses that aims to improve food safety and support consumer confidence.

There are three food safety management tools in the new standard:

• food safety supervisor (FSS)
• food handler training
• substantiation of critical food safety controls (evidence tool)

More information about the requirements can be found in the following link:  Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety Management Tools | NSW Food Authority

The NSW Food Authority is developing free online Food Handler Basics training that covers basic food safety and hygiene. Participants receive a certificate of acknowledgement on completion.

Information about the free online training module can be found on the following link:  Food Handler Basics training | NSW Food Authority

Please note that completing the Food Handler Basics training does not qualify you to be a Food Safety Supervisor.

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.