October 2002

Food safety guide is a world leader

Victoria is leading the way in food safety with a world-first web-based food safety program guide, says Health Minister John Thwaites.

‘As part of the Government's commitment to making food safety easier, cheaper and more cost-effective for food businesses we have supported this breakthrough program with funding and technical assistance.

‘To access the free service all food businesses need to do is log on to the website www.foodsmart.vic.gov.au.

‘Once a series of simple questions has been completed the computer automatically generates a food safety program which the business can use to bolster food safety in the business.

‘The program can be sent automatically to local government and lodged with environmental health officers.

‘Every council in Victoria is able to accept a food safety program via the internet.

‘This is the first time that food businesses have been able to go online to create a food safety program and then submit it electronically.’

After January 1 next year, it will be a statutory requirement for all food businesses to have a food safety program.

The program sets out how the business is going to ensure the safety of the food they make, serve or transport.

‘This is a cutting edge development, recognised by a National Government Technology Productivity Award which was presented to the City of Whittlesea earlier this year.

‘Already, more than 2,000 Victorian businesses have used FoodSmart to successfully generate a food safety program.

‘Trials have shown that the FoodSmart system is allowing businesses to produce a Food Safety Program to meet their statutory obligations to create a food safety program in two to three hours.’