New Food Safety Requirements

Food service, caterers and related retail businesses in NSW need to meet new food safety requirements in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).

This new food safety standard enforceable in NSW from 8 December 2024, applies to school canteens, childcare centres, supermarkets, coffee vendors selling food and boarding schools.

The national standard mandating staff training and risk management procedures is enforceable to most food businesses from 8 December 2023, however, some business types in NSW received a further 12 months to comply.

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, while products like confectionary and cakes, are generally not captured.

Most outlets need to arrange formal Food Safety Supervisor training or at least one person in the business and ensure all food handlers have general food safety skills and knowledge and can show safe food practices.

Higher-risk businesses must also be able to show they are managing key food safety risks.

Moree Plains Shire Council Manager Building Services Dwayne Singh commented, “The standard aimed to further prevent people becoming sick from eating unsafe food. Residents, visitors and workers in Moree Plains Shire demand a high level of food safety at the places they eat at every day.

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.”

Mr Singh said Council have taken an educative approach with local businesses as they transitioned to the new requirements.

For more information, visit the NSW Food Authority website: www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/safetytools