About FoodSmart

FoodSmart is a Template approved by the Victorian Department of Human Services that allows most food retail or food service businesses to build a Food Safety Program. By answering simple questions about what you do in your business, FoodSmart will construct a Food Safety Program that lists all the potential hazards, how to control and monitor them, as well as telling you what to do if things go wrong

In most instances, FoodSmart is a suitable template for a variety of food retail businesses. If you are in any doubt that FoodSmart is the right template for your business, you should contact your Local Council Environmental Health Officer who will be able to guide you.

If your business sells, transports or prepares mainly meat (like a butcher) or seafood (like a fishmonger) then you should be registered with Primesafe (www.primesafe.vic.gov.au) who can be contacted on 9685 7333.

If you run a butchers operation within a premises that sells other food (for example, a supermarket), you will need to be registered with your local council under the Food Act, but you will also need to comply with the Victorian Standard for the Hygienic Production of Meat at Retail Premises (Nov 1988) which can be obtained from Primesafe.

If you business sells, makes, transports or prepares mainly dairy products (like a dairy or a cheesemaker) then you should be registered with Dairy Food Safety Victoria (www.dairysafe.vic.gov.au) who can be contacted on 9810 5900.

You may have an obligation comply with other regulations with regard to your business. Check with your local council.

When to lodge your Food Safety Program

It is a requirement of the Victorian Food Act that your business must lodge a Food Safety Program with your Local Council the next time you register (or re-register) your business after 2 January 2002.

Example 1: If you register your business with council on 1 January 2002, then you will need to lodge a Food Safety Program on 1 January 2003.

Example 2: If you register your business with council on 1 February 2002 then you will need to lodge a Food Safety Program on 1 February 2002.

It is expected that most businesses in Victoria will be required to lodge their Food Safety Programs towards the end of 2002 as they start preparing to re-register with their Local Council on 1 January 2003.

If you are in any doubt about when you need to submit a Food Safety Program, contact your Local Council.

How to lodge your Food Safety Program

FoodSmart allows you to email your completed Food Safety program to your Local Council. You should contact your Local Council within 14 days of emailing your Food Safety Program in order to complete the registration (or re-registration) of your business.

Alternatively, if you chose not to email your FoodSmart Food Safety Program to your Local Council, you will need to provide council a copy of your Food Safety Program when you register (or re-register) your business.

If you are uncertain, contact your local Council Environmental Health Officer, or the Template Hotline on 1300 888 498.

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