Food Act reforms cut red tape

Changes to the Food Act 1984 simplify food safety requirements in low-risk situations.

The amendments, which come into effect on 1 July, allow regulation to be better matched to the level of food safety risk.

The changes will ensure high food safety standards remain in place while strengthening the accountability of regulators, reducing the regulatory burden on many businesses and community groups and enabling better use of council resources.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr John Carnie said the changes were part of the government's response to the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission’s inquiry into food regulation.

"These changes continue to protect vulnerable Victorians, such as the sick and the very young or elderly, while easing off requirements for low-risk food related activities like community group fund raisers," Dr Carnie said.

"We hope that by simplifying the rules, people will be better able to comply with the ultimate outcome of improved food safety for Victorians."

While a high standard of food safety regulation remains in effect for premises that serve food to vulnerable groups such as hospitals, aged care facilities and childcare centres, the amendments will mean:

• Community groups holding simple sausage sizzles and cake stalls can simply notify their local council of their activities. They do not have to complete a food safety program.
• Food businesses that sell unpackaged low risk food like fresh bread rolls will be able to complete simpler records to demonstrate food safety compliance.
• Greater consistency and clarification around the respective roles of local and state government.

Dr Carnie said the changes were the first stage of a roll-out of improvements over the next year, and the culmination of years of effort by the department, councils, businesses, industry peak bodies, the Municipal Association of Victoria and other stakeholders who contributed to the development and implementation of the reforms.

Guidelines and practical tools, including a free on-line food safety learning program, Do Food Safely, have been developed for councils, businesses and community groups and can be accessed from the department's Food Safety website.