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Standard 3.2.1 - Food Safety Programs

Standard 3.2.1 - Food Safety Programs

A food safety program is a written document indicating how a food business will control the food safety hazards associated with the food handling activities of the business. Only certain high risk food businesses are required to have food safety programs: 

  • Businesses that serve or process potentially hazardous food for service to vulnerable people are required to comply with Standard 3.2.1, in accordance with Standard 3.3.1 - Food Safety Programs for Food Service to Vulnerable Persons. This includes businesses providing food to hospital patients, aged care residents and children in child care centres. It will also normally apply to delivered meal organisations, that is, organisations that prepare food for delivery to vulnerable people.
  • Seafood businesses that engage in the primary production or processing of, or manufacturing activities concerning, bivalve molluscs must implement a documented food safety management system that effectively controls the hazards. These businesses can comply with the requirements by following Standard 3.2.1 or other compliance options listed in subclause 16(2) of Standard 4.2.1 - Primary Production and Processing Standard for Seafood
  • Businesses producing manufactured and fermented meats are required to develop a food safety management system in accordance with Standard 4.2.2 (Poultry Meat) and Standard 4.2.3 (Meat)

Food businesses may also be required to have food safety programs under state or territory food legislation. Food businesses should check state/territory requirements with their local council or state/territory health department - see below.

Guidance

A Guide to Standard 3.2.1 - Food Safety Programs

 

Jurisdictional web sites with information for businesses

ACT:

Food safety programs for high risk food businesses | Health (act.gov.au) 

NSW:

Food safety programs HACCP | NSW Food Authority 

NT:

NT Department of Health

QLD:

Qld Health - Food safety programs and auditors  

Safe Food Qld (primary production & processing) - Accreditation - Safe Food 

SA:

Food Safety Audits | SA Health 

Food safety - PIRSA 

TAS:

Food safety for businesses and community organisations | Tasmanian Department of Health

VIC:

Food safety programs (health.vic.gov.au)

Food safety | Biosecurity | Agriculture Victoria 

WA:

Regulatory food safety auditing for food businesses (health.wa.gov.au) 

 

Page last updated 18 January 2024