New Regulations – Standard 3.2.2A
As discussed in the ‘Food Safety Supervisor Registered Training Organisation Forum’ on the 24 August 2023, there will be changes made to the Food Standards Code – 3.2.2A Food Safety Management Tools. Food service, caterer and related retail businesses in Australia need to meet new food safety requirements in the from 8 December 2023.
Businesses that process unpackaged, potentially hazardous food, and sell or serve it ready-to-eat, are required to implement two or three tools depending on their food handling activities
- have a qualified onsite Food Safety Supervisor, for the supervision of food handlers.
- ensure all food handlers are trained in food safety and hygiene or can demonstrate adequate skills and knowledge.
- maintain a record of their food safety risk management or be able to show their food is safe.
Category one businesses must implement all three tools. Category two businesses must implement tools 1 and 2 only. Both categories have been defined below.
- Category one businesses process potentially hazardous food into a food that is ready-to-eat and potentially hazardous and serve it to consumers. Processing means chopping, cooking, drying, fermenting, heating, thawing and washing, or a combination of these.
- Category two businesses serve unpackaged, potentially hazardous, ready-to-eat food they have not made themselves. The business might remove packaging before serving, or receive the food unpackaged (for example, from a caterer). E.g Service station that received pre-packaged pies
Some examples of businesses that were previously exempt for the Food Safety Supervisor Requirement but will now need to abide by these standards include:
- charities and not-for-profit organisations
- school canteens
- childcare services, including out of school hours care
- correctional centres
- delicatessens
The changes aim to improve the skills and knowledge of food handlers and their supervisors, and to assist both businesses and enforcement agencies to identify failures in the management of potentially hazardous food more quickly and take appropriate action.
Brighten offers training to satisfy both tools 1 and 2 from Standard 3.2.2A. Contact us today.