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The Environmental Health Officers are responsible for registering Food Premises, inspecting registered premises, conducting food sampling to assess health risks, investigating complaints about food and investigating food poisoning outbreaks.
People who are intending on establishing a Food Premises must have approval from the Council's Health Department before commencing trade. Food Premises relates to the sale of food and/or beverages and can include mobile food vehicles and domestic kitchens where food may be prepared for sale to the public.
All Food Premises that prepare foods must submit a Food Safety Program and have it approved by Council's Health Department. The Food Premises need to nominate a Food Safety Supervisor who is responsible for ensuring that the Food Safety Program is implemented.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact the Health Department on (+613) 5036 2333 or email.
New Food Premises
Buying or Selling an Existing Food Premises
Structural Guidelines for Food Premises
Food Safety Programs
Food Safety Supervisor
Temporary Food Stalls
Newsletters
New Food Premises
It is important that you make contact with the Council's Health Department if you are intending on opening a new Food Premises.
There are guidelines to construction of a Food Premises that must be adhered to which can be found at www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandardscode
It is important that you liaise with the Environmental Health Officers during this process and have us do an inspection during the construction and once construction has been completed.
Trading is not to commence until the final inspection has been carried out and all required paperwork has been successfully completed.
For registration to be completed, Swan Hill Rural City Council's Health Department must be provided with the following;
Buying or Selling an Existing Food Premises
There are a few requirements when transferring a food premises into a new proprietor's name.
The new proprietors may request an inspection of the premises before the business is transferred. Permission to release the information from the inspection must be obtained from the current proprietors before a final report can be given to the new proprietors. Any outstanding works or issues that may be found by the Environmental Health Officer during the inspection become the responsibility of the new proprietor once transfer is completed.
Both the current proprietors and the new proprietors must fill out a transfer form. The appropriate fee paid by the new proprietors should accompany this form.
For the transfer of registration to be complete, the new proprietors will need to provide a Food Safety Program, a copy of the Food Safety Supervisors certificate and the transfer form with appropriate fee.
If transfer of a food premises has not taken place and new proprietors commence trading, they are operating illegally as this is an offence under the Food Act 1984. This may lead to enforcement action being taken by Council.
Structural Guidelines for Food Premises
There are Food Safety Standards that must be complied with when constructing a new food premises, or altering an existing food premises, and it is important to consider these during the planning stages.
The requirements for fixtures, fittings and equipment are clearly stated in Standard 3.2.3 Food Premises and Equipment and there is authority to enforce these guidelines under the Food Act 1984.
For more information on this Standard refer to the Safe Food Australia, A Guide to the Food Safety Standards on the Food Safety Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) website www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodsafetystandardsaustraliaonly/standard323.cfm
Food Safety Programs
All food businesses that are preparing food must have a Food Safety Program in place. There are two generic templates available that have been developed by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
One template is available in hardcopy from Information Victoria for $25.00 (plus postage & handling). Council often have these available for purchase at the Council Offices. However, this template can be downloaded free of charge from www.health.vic.gov.au/foodsafety/templates.htm
The Foodsmart template can be completed online at www.foodsmart.vic.gov.au . This online template can automatically submit a copy of your Food Safety Program to Swan Hill Rural City Council. The site allows you to login at anytime to alter or update your Food Safety Program.
Food Safety Supervisor
A Food Safety Supervisor must be appointed under Section 19G of the Food Act 1984. The Food Safety Supervisor must have completed sufficient training.
Food Safety Supervisor/s must be nominated and named in the Food Safety Program when it is submitted to Council.
A Food Safety Supervisor is a person who, in relation to a declared premises:
- has obtained a certificate of attainment from a registered training organisation meeting the required competency standards.
- knows how to recognise, prevent and alleviate the hazards associated with the handling of food at, or from that premises;
- has met an appropriate food safety competency standard for premises of the same nature as the premises; and
- has the ability and the authority to supervise other people handling food at, or from, the premises and ensure that handling is done safely.
For details on training providers please contact the Council's Health Department on (03)5036 2333.
Temporary Food Stalls
Council needs to be informed of any temporary food stalls that will be taking place within the municipality. The Food Safety Program – Events Template must be completed before the event.
For the guidelines of Temporary Food Premises click on the attachment below.
· Food Safety Program - Events Template
Newsletters
Food Safety News - Issue 3
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