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Food Safety

The main objective of food surveillance within Latrobe City Council is to ensure that food sold within the municipality is safe and suitable for human consumption. All food premises are registered and inspected by Latrobe City Council's Environmental Health Officers. In addition, samples of food are purchased and tested by an independent laboratory to ensure compliance with the National Food Standards Code. All complaints about unclean premises / handlers, food poisoning, storage, manufacturing, cooking, and display of food are also investigated by Latrobe City Council's Environmental Health Officers.
 

 

 

Setting up a new food business

Everybody who prepares, stores or sells food has a legal obligation to be registered under the Food Act with the relevant local Council.

 

Plan Lodgement

In addition to receiving the necessary Building and Planning Permits, you will need to submit 2 copies of scale plans to the Health Services Team for approval prior to commencement of works. Plans must be submitted and attached to the Plan Approval Application for Food And Health Act Premises with the appropriate fee. Food premises $100 or Health premises $80.

 'Guidelines for Design & Construction of a Food Premises' have been developed to assist people establishing or altering a food premises in conjunction with Australian Standards 4674-2004 Design and construction of a food premises.

All food businesses within Latrobe City Council are required to have a Trade Waste Agreement with Gippsland Water to ascertain if a grease trap is required. An Application for Consent to Discharge Commercial Trade Waste needs to be completed by ALL proprietors with Gippsland Water. For further enquiries pertaining to grease traps and commercial trade waste please contact Gippsland Water on 1800 066 401 and speak with the Commercial Trade Waste Officer or visit www.gippswater.com.au/OurServices/ForIndustry/CommercialTradeWasteServices/tabid/113/Default.aspx .

You will need to prepare and submit a Food Safety Program (FSP), nominate a Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) and apply for Food Act registration prior to your business opening. Please refer to FSP and FSS sections below. To obtain a registration form, please contact Health Services unit on 1300 367 700.

Buying an existing food business

If you are buying or intend to buy an existing food business, it is necessary to organise an transfer assessment of the premises under the Food Act prior to negotiating the purchase. Such a request must include the following:

You will also need to prepare and submit a Food Safety Program for your business prior to operating. Refer to section below for more detail. 

 

Food Safety Programs

A Food Safety Program must now be submitted by all food businesses prior to commencing a new food business or transferring of an existing food business. A Food Safety Program is a written plan that describes how a food business will control, monitor and manage food safely. There are 2 ways of preparing a Food Safety Program:-

  1. Using a Food Safety Program Template
    Various Food Industry Groups have developed templates. In addition, the Department of Human Services have developed 2 templates for Retail and Food Service Businesses. A copy of the template can be purchased from Information Victoria (Phone: 1300 366 356), or via the internet at www.health.vic.gov.au/foodsafety/bus/templates/index.htm . Alternatively, visit www.foodsmart.vic.gov.au/ to access the on-line version of the Department of Human Services template.
  2. Writing your own Food Safety Program
    Some businesses (such as large food manufacturers) may wish to write their own or employ someone to write their Food Safety Program. These businesses will then need to be third party audited.

As part of your Food Safety Program, you are required to measure the temperature of food and document this correctly and appropriately in your Food Safety Program Records. For information on where to purchase one please click on purchase a probe thermometer or alternatively one can be purchased from Latrobe City Council's Health Services Team by using a probe food thermometer order form.

You must also ensure that all products prepared, stored, sold and purchased for your business comply with the new labelling requirements. The Quick guides to Labelling has all the information and diagrams of what requirements your business must meet.

Food Safety Supervisor

Every food business that has a Food Safety Program must also nominate someone to be their Food Safety Supervisor. This person must have a certificate of recognition or statement of attainment against the required competencies from a Registered Training Organisation.

More information can be found by accessing "Food Safety Supervisor, Competencies & Training" on the Food Safety Unit's website www.health.vic.gov.au/foodsafety.

 

 

Food Sampling

In order to ensure that food premises within Latrobe City Council are providing food which is suitable for human consumption to the public, routine food sampling is undertaken by the Health Services Team. Sampling is conducted monthly and the types of foods sampled varies. Around 300 samples are analysed each year including complaints.

Occasionally, sampling surveys are conducted in conjunction with Food Safety Victoria and the Gippsland Regional food Group.

 

 

Temporary Food Stalls

Temporary food stalls can be sausage sizzles, markets, fetes, festivals, and/or charity events. Every stallholder at an event that sells food needs to obtain a permit from Latrobe City Council's Health Services Team. Temporary food permits can be issued for 1 day, 2-3 or 4-12 days and expire at the end of each calendar year. Stallholders that exceed 12 events must register as a part time food premises.

Recent changes to food laws means that all temporary food stalls including charities, non profit and community organisations selling food must have a Food Safety Program before a permit can be issued.  A 'Food Safety Program Template for Community Food Events' has been developed by the Department of Human Services (State Health Department) to assist volunteer associations, community groups, clubs or anyone else selling food at an event to comply with this requirement.

As part of your Food Safety Program, you are required to measure the temperature of food and document this correctly and appropriately in your Food Safety Program Records. For information on where to purchase one please click on purchase a probe thermometer or alternatively one can be purchased from Latrobe City Council's Health Services Team by using a probe food thermometer order form.

A Temporary Food Premises Application form must be completed, and returned with the applicable fee at least 3 weeks prior to the event. Stallholders must provide detail of date/s and location/s of an event on the application form. If unsure of exact dates and locations at time of completing form, please contact Health Services Team on 1300 367 700 one  week prior to each event with exact details.

Anyone intending to set up a food stall must also obtain a copy of Latrobe City Council's Guidelines for Temporary Food Premises.

Please note:

  • All Temporary Food Applications are to be accompanied by an application fee.
  • An Environmental Health Officer may visit your stall on the day of the event to ensure compliance and  will request to see your certificate of registration (or copy) along with your Food Safety Program.

If the stall or event is to be held on Latrobe City Council property (eg. footpath, reserve), you must:

  1. Complete the Indemnity Form; and 
  2. Contact Latrobe City Council's Local Laws Team on 1300 367 700.

 

 

Food Vehicles

Where a food vehicle is kept for the preparation, handling or serving of any food for sale, the vehicle is required to be registered. This may include ice cream vans, hot dog and pie vans. A mobile food vehicle is any vehicle, in which food is manufactured, heated, prepared or sold and must be registered under the food Act 1984 with the municipality in which it is normally garaged. 

If you have a premises where food is stored for the mobile food vehicle this must also be registered.

The design and construction of a mobile food vehicle must comply with the Australian Standards and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) Code. Below are some of the requirements:

  • There may be restrictions on where your vehicle can be located. The use of public land (e.g. footpaths, roads, parks etc) may be restricted or regulated by Council. Please check with Latrobe City Council's Local Laws unit on 1300 367 700.
  • The Food Act 1984 also requires mobile food vehicles to submit a Food Safety Program (FSP) and have a trained Food Safety Supervisor (FSS). Copy of FSP and FSS certificate must be provided to Latrobe City Council along with a registration form and fee.

 

To obtain a Food Vehicle Registration form, please contact the Health Services Team on 1300 367 700.

 

 

Food Poisoning / Complaints

Latrobe City Council's Environmental Health Officers respond to customer complaints about alleged food poisoning, poor food handling or cleanliness and food found to contain foreign objects.

If you suspect you have food poisoning, please contact our office as soon as possible to allow effective follow-up. Any leftover food should be wrapped and stored in your fridge. You will be asked to explain your symptoms, onset time and three day food history. As part of the investigation, Latrobe City Council officers will also ask you to provide a faecal sample, if this has not already been done by your doctor.

If you have concerns regarding any of the following areas, please contact Latrobe City Council's Health Services Team.

 

 

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