In December 2022, the Australian Government introduced the new Food Safety Standard 3.2.2A – Food Safety Management Tools. The standard applies to most food service and food retail businesses.
Businesses will need to follow the new standard from 8 December 2023.
Does Standard 3.2.2A apply to my food business?
Businesses will be categorised depending on the type of food handling activities carried out. Based on the categorisation, some businesses will need to implement two or three new food safety management tools.
Businesses which do not fall within categories one and two are unaffected by the changes.
Category one
Businesses that make and serve potentially hazardous foods to consumers for immediate consumption. This includes businesses such as cafes, restaurants, takeaways, pubs, and some childcare centres.
Most food businesses licensed by Council fall within category one.
Category two
Businesses that minimally handle, but do not make, potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food before its retail sale. Such as service stations (where they reheat and sell unpackaged food such as pies and sausage rolls) and some supermarket delis (that do not also cook chickens).
Exemptions
The food safety management tools do not apply to food businesses:
- which only handle food at one off fundraising events or a not-for-profit organisation where a Food Business Licence is not requried;
- who do not sell food by retail (e.g., food manufacturers); and
- that do not handle unpackaged potentially hazardous foods.
Food Safety Management Tools
Food handler training (category one and two businesses)
Food businesses must ensure that each food handler completes a food safety training course or have appropriate skills and knowledge in food safety and hygiene.
For free online food safety training, access the EHA I'M ALERT Food Safety program.
Certified Food Safety Supervisor (category one and two businesses)
Food businesses must appoint a certified Food Safety Supervisor. This person must have attended an approved training course within the past five years.
Substantiation of Compliance – Evidence Tool (category one businesses only)
Food businesses must maintain records or show via other means that they comply with prescribed provisions which includes safely receiving, storing, processing, displaying, and transporting potentially hazardous food, and for cleaning and sanitising.
Some information category one businesses may need to record includes:
- Temperature charts
- Record of process controls
- Cleaning and sanitising schedules
- Delivery logs
Record keeping templates that can be adapted to your business can be found at Safe Food Australia "Appendix 8 – Template examples".
Where can I find out more?
Category one and category two food businesses will receive an email from Council containing their indicative category which will be confirmed during the next Council inspection. The email will contain information to assist businesses in complying with the food safety management tools applicable to their business.
If you would like to contact an Environmental Health Officer about these changes, please phone Council on (07) 3829 8999 or email BSOEnvironmentalHealth@redland.qld.gov.au.
Related information
- Queensland Government – Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety Management Tools
- Food Standards Australia and New Zealand – Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety Management Tools guideline [PDF, 1MB]
