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Food safety audits and assessments
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Food safety audits
Class 1 and 2 food premises - independent food safety programs
Food safety audits of class 1 and class 2 premises that have independent food safety programs (FSPs) are a fundamental part of Victoria’s food safety system.
The audit process requires a Department of Health-approved auditor to determine whether the food safety program:
- is adequate - that is, does it address the hazards associated with the premises' food handing operations, and
- whether the food premises is complying with the program.
Food safety auditors are certified under the Food Act 1984 to ensure they are working in a consistent and reliable manner, thereby safeguarding Victoria’s reputation for safe food.
Audits must be conducted at declared intervals by a Department of Health-approved food safety auditor who is certified as competent to conduct audits. The flyer below includes more information about the audit system, including what food premises must do to comply with their obligations.
Victoria's food safety audit system, February 2011
Class 3 and class 4 – no audit
Under the Food Act, the level of regulation is aligned to the type of food handled by the business and the microbial hazards these activities pose to public health. The greater potential for things to go wrong during a business' food handling processes, and the greater the potential impact on people’s health, the higher the level of regulation.
As class 3 and 4 food premises supply or handle only lower risk foods, they are not required to have a food safety program and do not need to be audited.Food safety auditors
Only food safety auditors who have completed the competency-based RABSQA Food Safety Certification and been approved by the Department of Health may audit food premises for the purposes of the Food Act.
Food safety auditors must audit food business to check that businesses are complying with their food safety programs, the Food Act, and applicable standards.
Following the audit, the auditor must provide an audit certificate to the council within 14 days of completing the certificate. That certificate must either be
- a certificate of compliance, or
- if an audit has revealed non-compliances at the premises - a certificate detailing corrective actions taken to address those deficiencies, or any outstanding matters.
The auditor must also separately inform the council as soon as practicable about any deficiencies that may lead to a serious risk of food being sold or prepared that is unsafe or unsuitable.
The proprietor of the premises must provide the council with a copy of any report prepared by the auditor, if requested by the council.
In addition to independent private auditors, council officers are also able to audit food safety programs on behalf of their councils, provided the officers are approved auditors under the Food Act and the council has decided that it will offer audit services to food premises.
Approved auditors carry identification to confirm that they have the required qualifications and approval.
Please refer to the following list for approved Victorian Food Safety Auditors:
Food safety auditor list - 14 May 2012
Food safety auditor certification
Prospective food safety auditors will require certification from the Registrar Accreditation Board Quality Society of Australasia (RABQSA) for appropriate sectors before applying to the Department of Health.
Prospective auditors should familiarise themselves with the requirements contained in the Food Act before forwarding an application form to the Department of Health, Food Safety and Regulation Unit, GPO Box 4541, Melbourne VIC 3001. Refer to the appropriate application form below for further information regarding application requirements.
Auditor application form (new auditor)
Renewing food safety auditor application form
Food safety assessments
Class 2 food premises – template food safety programs
Class 2 food businesses that choose to use a Department of Health-registered food safety program template do not need an audit of their food safety programs. This is because these templates are structured documents that have been registered and deemed suitable by the Secretary to the Department.
The food safety assessment process involves councils conducting an annual assessment of a food businesses food safety programs to determine:
- if the business has used the correct Department of Health-registered food safety program template
- if the business is complying with its food safety program and applicable Australian food safety standards.
