Last month Australia hosted it’s 20th annual HACCP Conference and awards ceremony for HACCP food safety. The event was held in Melbourne, Victoria and key focus topics included Australia’s role in a global marketplace, Australian technical updates and new issues for food exportation.

Awards were presented to individuals, small companies and large well-established companies such as Sanitarium who were presented with the ‘Outstanding Company’ award for their continued efforts to ensure food safety since their inception in 1898. The awards ceremony is one of the biggest food safety events in Australia and sponsors include supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Australian Food and Grocery Council.

Australia is well regarded in terms of food safety and stringent laws are in place that food businesses must follow. One of these laws is that every food business must have a HACCP Plan in place and that this must be adhered to.

Food safety training requirements are also strict. Across Australia, anyone that handles or prepares food must be trained in food safety. In New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory every food business must also have one Food Safety Supervisor nominated for each location or site. These supervisors must have completed specific regulated training to achieve thie qualification required to hold the position.

The HACCP Plan forms part of the wider food safety program that is required by Australian food businesses. The food safety program must be documented, regularly maintained and stored on the premises so that an Environmental Health Officer may access it when required.

For more information on food safety laws and training regulations in Australia, visit www.foodsafety.com.au