Food Handler Requirements and Training

A new National Food Safety Standard, 3.2.2A – Food Safety Management Tools, has been introduced across Australia to improve food safety and prevent foodborne illness.

Will I be impacted by the new standards?

If your business handles PHF* (e.g. meat, dairy, eggs, cut fruit/veggies, tofu, cooked rice/pasta) and provides it as 'ready to eat' PHF, your business will need to comply with the new standard. The requirements vary by business type and are split into 2 categories.

*PHF (Potentially Hazardous Food) = foods to be kept in the fridge <5°C (or kept hot >60°C) for food safety.

• Category 1: businesses that handle and provide unpackaged high-risk ready-to-eat foods. For example, cafés, restaurants, canteens or caterers.

• Category 2: businesses that only minimally handle unpackaged high-risk food (such as: slicing, weighing, repacking, reheating or hot-holding). For example: a service station which receives chilled pies and sandwiches which are displayed in a hot or cold display unit, or a supermarket deli which slices and packs cold meats.

What is required?

The new Standard contains three tools/requirements to manage food safety. 

Category 1 

Category 2

1. Food Handler Training 

Yes

Yes

2. Food Safety Supervisor 

Yes

Yes 

3. Should that your food is safe 

Yes

Not Applicable 

What food handler training is required?

Basic food safety training is required for all food handlers in Category 1 and 2 businesses. The City provides free FoodSafe Online training to our local businesses. This course is sufficient to meet this requirement.

This FoodSafe Online course costs $35. Use the discount code FSARMAD312 at checkout to have the training discounted to $0: www.ehawa.org.au/products/foodsafe-products/foodsafe-online

What food safety supervisor training is required?

Food Safety Supervisors (FSS) Category 1 and 2 businesses will need to appoint at least one FSS. A FSS must be reasonably available to advise and supervise the food handlers when they are handling unpackaged high-risk ready-to-eat foods. A FSS will be required to take a FSS training course delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and the certification must be refreshed every 5 years. RTOs that deliver the FSS course are listed here: www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Food-Safety-Supervisor-Training-Course 

How do I should that our food is safe?

This is a record keeping requirement. Category 1 businesses must show that food safety controls are being managed by keeping records. This includes:

• Temperature control records (food display, storage and receipt);

• Cleaning / sanitising records and;

• Food processing records.

These records must be kept for a minimum of 3 months. 

Information sheets

New Food Safety Standards - 3.2.2A Guide

1.11 MB

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Department of Health Infographic - Food Safety Standards 3.2.2.A

464.73 KB

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Safe Food - Record Templates

1.42 MB

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For more information

Online food safety training

FREE Online Food Safety Training – FoodSafe

This training usually costs $35. However the City covers the cost for its local businesses and community members. Use the discount code FSARMAD312 at checkout to have the training discounted to $0, and then no payment is required. A certificate will be generated on completion of the course.

FoodSafe Online is the link to this training program (use discount code FSARMAD312). Please forward a copy of the certificate to info@armadale.wa.gov.au and include the name of the food business or event.

FREE Online Food Allergy Training – All About Allergens

All about Allergens training is a free online course for anyone working or volunteering in the food industry. The course takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to complete and a certificate can be printed on completion. 

https://foodallergytraining.org.au is the link to this training program. Please forward a copy of the certificate to info@armadale.wa.gov.au and include the name of the food business or event.