Auditing food businesses

Page content: Third party audits | Audit requirements | Existing HACCP audits & food act | Food safety auditors

Who has to be third party audited

All Class 1 food businesses (formerly class A businesses) where food handled or sold is high risk and ready to eat; and handled prior to sale; and to be consumed predominantly by at-risk/vulnerable populations will be required to be audited. These businesses include hospitals; aged care facilities, childcare facilities and meals on wheels kitchens.

Any other business (other than Class 1) that chooses to develop their own independent food safety program must also be 3rd party audited.

However these businesses (now called Class2) can also choose to develop their food safety program from a State registered template and instead of having a 3rd party audit will have a compliance check by local government.

What is required in an audit?

The Food Act 1984 requires that:

• A food safety audit be conducted at declared interval(s) to determine whether a food safety program:
  • has been complied with during the period covered by the audit; and
  • is still adequate at the date of the audit; and
• The food safety audit of the food safety program must be conducted by an approved food safety auditor certified as competent to conduct an audit of such a premises.

Please download the brochure for further general information:

Auditing Brochure (142kb, pdf)

What if I have an existing audited proprietary HACCP quality program?

The Department of Human Services Food Safety Unit wants to ensure that businesses which use proprietary HACCP systems (Food Safety Programs) do not have duplicate requirements imposed on them in order to comply with the Victorian Food Act 1984.
This document is designed to provide guidance to:

1. Businesses that use proprietary HACCP systems (Food Safety Programs) to inform them what additions to the proprietary system they need to make to comply with the Food Act 1984; and
   
   
2. 'Approved auditors', to assist them in making their determination that the proprietary system and additions are adequate for the purposes of the Food Act 1984; and
   
   
3. Local governments, which register food businesses in Victoria.

Guideline to Food Businesses using Proprietary HACCP Systems for the purposes of the Victorian Food Act 1984 (128kb, pdf)

Food safety auditors

Only food safety auditors approved by the Department of Human Services may audit food premises for the purpose of the Food Act 1984.

Food safety auditors must audit food business to check that the food safety program, the Food Act and applicable standards and codes are complied with.

Registered Food Safety Auditors list (37kb, pdf)

Details on the approval and the role of food safety auditors are contained in the following Food safety auditor’s handbook, 2nd edition.

Food safety auditor’s handbook, 2nd edition, September 2007 (426kb, pdf)

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 Human Services. Prospective food safety auditors should familiarise themselves with the requirements contained in the Food safety auditor’s handbook, 2nd edition. An application form, service agreement and a certificate or recommendation from the RABQSA as to the risk categories and industry scope the applicant is permitted to audit, should be forwarded to the Department of Human Services, Food Safety and Regulatory Activities, GPO Box 4057, MELBOURNE VIC 3001, by prospective food safety auditors.

Application to be a food safety auditor, August 2005 (27kb, pdf)

DHS - Auditor Service Agreement, September 2007 (106kb, pdf)

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