TAFE NSW - Food Safety Supervisor Certificate - Online course option

Recently there have been changes made to the Food Safety Regulations. From Wednesday 8th December 2023, this may mean that food and beverage service activities that have been exempt from needing a certified Food Safety Supervisor present, may no longer be exempt.

 

If this impacts on you and you are looking for a way to have your employees quickly trained as Food Safety Supervisors, TAFE NSW offers a 100% online option that can be completed with a day, and which you can enrol in anytime of the year. You can also call 131 601 for assistance with enrolling, or pop into any TAFE NSW campus during business hours.

 

To find out more, or to enrol to train as a Food Safety Supervisor, visit : https://www.tafensw.edu.au/course-areas/food-and-hospitality/courses/statement-of-attainment-in-food-safety-supervision-skill-set--SITSS00069-V01/offerings/SITSS00069-V01-23OTE-018

 

Below is some general information about the Food Safety Regulations changes. You can also read even more detail on the Food Authority website: https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/

 

Food Safety Supervisor (FSS)

  • All existing business that require a FSS will remain.

  • New businesses that where previously exempt (before 08.12.23) and will now require a FSS:

    • coffee vendors that only heat milk

    • not-for-profit community and charitable causes

    • school canteens (primary or secondary)

    • boarding schools

    • children’s services

    • out of school hours care services

    • correctional centres

    • supermarkets (where heated food was not sold)

    • food businesses premises that only do one or more of the following activities only:

      • slice fermented meats or smallgoods, or both

      • slice or portion cheese, or both

      • process raw seafood

      • slice or portion fruit or vegetables, or both.

  • Business that will remain exempt

    • The handling of food for or at a fundraising event. Fundraising event means an event that raises funds solely for a community or charitable cause and not for personal financial gain.

    • Businesses that only manufacture or wholesale food (such as a manufacturer of bulk ham that is sold packaged to supermarkets) with no direct sale to consumers (other food safety arrangements will apply to these businesses).

    • Food businesses that are not serving or retailing unpackaged food that is potentially hazardous and ready to eat (such as service stations selling food that remains in its original sealed packaging, a coffee van that only sells food that is not potentially hazardous).

Food Handlers

  • Ensure all food handlers are trained in food safety and hygiene, or can demonstrate adequate skills and knowledge.

  •  It is important to note that a certificate is not a proof of skills under the Food Standards Code and food handlers must also be able to demonstrate they know how to handle food safely in the food business.

It can be safe to say any business that requires a FSS classifies the fellow staff members as ‘Food Handlers’. General examples of affected businesses include:

  • restaurants, cafés, pubs and hotels

  • takeaway shops, mobile food vendors, juice bars and coffee vendors

  • caterers that serve food directly to consumers

  • supermarkets and delis

  • childcare services that provide food.

  • charities and not-for-profit organisations

  • school canteens

  • childcare services, including out of school hours care

  • correctional centres

  • delicatessens

  • supermarkets

 

NSW Food Handler basic training

The NSW Food Authority Website has created a Basic Training. For more information please click HERE

Sara Johnston