NSW Primary Industries Minister, Steve Whan, has announced that dining out is set to become even safer, with the Food Safety Supervisor law moving into its next phase on Friday October 1.

“The 12-month implementation period for certain food businesses to appoint their own Food Safety Supervisor, trained to ensure safe food handling practices begins tomorrow,” said Mr Whan.

“Poor food handling accounts for over a third of foodborne illness outbreaks in NSW, and costs the community around $416 million each year.

“This is on top of the suffering and inconvenience to those people who become ill.”

Mr Whan said businesses now had twelve months to appoint in-house Food Safety Supervisor to oversee food safety from the front line.

“It will add an extra layer of protection to the suite of initiatives already in place to ensure NSW people have a safe experience when they choose to dine out.”

John Hart, CEO of Restaurant and Catering, said the Food Safety Supervisor initiative would be welcomed by the hospitality industry.

“The industry was consulted with extensively over this, and Restaurant & Catering is very supportive of mandatory training for food safety supervisors,” he said.

“Having the right skills in food handling is undoubtedly the best way to ensure high standards of food safety.”

Mr Whan said the mandatory training will only apply to certain businesses in the hospitality and retail food service sector.

“Places like cafes, restaurants, takeaways, pubs and clubs will be required to have one Food Safety Supervisor per premises.

“I encourage businesses to ensure they have appointed a trained FSS and notified the relevant council as soon as possible, in order to comply with these changes.”

Food Safety Supervisors will need to be trained by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) approved by the NSW Food Authority.

“Not only will the Food Safety Supervisor requirement benefit consumers and the industry itself, it gives the nominated person a nationally recognised qualification as well,” he said.

“I acknowledge the hard work and contribution of everyone in the Hospitality Industry Working Group including Clubs NSW, Australian Hotels Association, Restaurant & Catering NSW, Australian National Retailers Association and the Baking Industry Association.”

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