ACT Food Safety Supervisor Notification Guide 2025

Registered food businesses in the ACT that prepare unpackaged, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food must nominate a food safety supervisor (FSS) and notify their details to ACT Health. The FSS must hold a recognised qualification, and you must re-notify if the supervisor changes. Notification is a legal step under the Food Act 2001 (ACT) and part of the territory's single-regulator model, where ACT Health handles registration, FSS notification and inspection. This guide explains who needs an FSS, which qualifications are accepted, how to notify, and how to make the role work in practice. FSS Notification in the ACT The Food Act 2001 (ACT) requires registered food businesses preparing unpackaged, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food to nominate and notify a food safety supervisor. This aligns with Standard 3.2.2A of the national Food Standards Code , which commenced on 8 December 2023 and formalised the FSS requirement nationally. Because the ACT is regulated centrally, you notify ACT Health directly rather than a local council — one authority, one process. Who Needs a Food Safety Supervisor? The requirement targets higher-risk food handling. You generally need an FSS if your business prepares and serves unpackaged, potentially hazardous, ready-to-eat food, which covers most: Restaurants, cafes, takeaways and bars serving prepared food Caterers and function venues Bakeries and patisseries handling ready-to-eat products Mobile food vans preparing hot or ready-to-eat meals Businesses handling only low-risk or pre-packaged food may have lighter obligations. If you are unsure, check with ACT Health before you open. Accepted Qualifications The FSS must hold qualifications recognised by ACT Health , typically including the nationally recognised units SITXFSA005 (Use hygienic practices for food safety) and SITXFSA006 (Participate in safe food handling practices) delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Because food safety knowledge dates, qualifications that are several years old generally require refresher training to remain acceptable. When you enrol staff, confirm the training is nationally recognised, delivered by an RTO, and current. How to Notify ACT Health: Step by Step Confirm your FSS holds an accepted qualification from an RTO and that it is current. Nominate the supervisor who is reasonably available to oversee daily food handling. Submit the FSS details to ACT Health with your food business registration or update. Keep the certificate accessible at the premises for inspection. Re-notify if you change your FSS, or if the qualification lapses and a new one is obtained. The Difference Between an FSS and a Food Handler Standard 3.2.2A distinguishes two roles, and ACT Health expects to see both. Every food handler — anyone working with food or food-contact surfaces — must have skills and knowledge appropriate to their tasks. The food safety supervisor sits above this as the designated, accountable person who oversees safe practices, trains and corrects others, and responds to incidents. A busy Canberra venue needs many competent handlers but generally one clearly identified supervisor per premises who is reasonably available during trading. Notifying an FSS satisfies the supervisor requirement; it does not remove your obligation to ensure your wider team is trained. Getting both right is what an inspection looks for. Choosing the Right FSS Training Food safety training in Australia is delivered by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that issue nationally recognised units. For hospitality, the commonly referenced units are SITXFSA005 and SITXFSA006. When enrolling a prospective supervisor, verify three things: that the provider is a genuine RTO, that the units are nationally recognised and current, and that the content suits your type of food business. Keep the certificate, its completion date and the RTO details together so you can produce clean evidence at inspection and know exactly when a refresher is due. What Happens If You Don't Notify an FSS If your business is required to have a notified food safety supervisor and cannot demonstrate one, ACT Health will typically raise it as a compliance issue during an inspection. Depending on the circumstances, that can mean a direction to nominate and train a supervisor within a set period, closer follow-up, or reduced confidence in your overall food safety system that leads to more scrutiny elsewhere. Because appointing and training an FSS is a straightforward fix, it is far better to have the role notified and evidenced before an officer visits than to be caught short. Keeping the notification current when your supervisor changes is just as important as the initial step. Embedding the FSS into Daily Operations Notifying an FSS is a legal box to tick, but the value comes from making that person the operational owner of your food safety system. A strong FSS drives morning temperature checks , allergen processes under Standard 1.2.3 (PEAL), cleaning sign-offs, and every corrective action from report to close-out. Short, regular toolbox talks keep the whole team aligned — our toolbox talks template gives you a ready structure. Keeping Your FSS Records Current The most common FSS pitfalls are administrative: a certificate that quietly expires, an FSS who leaves without a replacement being notified, or training that is too old to satisfy an inspector. Track certificate dates, keep evidence accessible, and diarise refreshers. Our team certifications tool tracks expiry dates automatically so a lapse never catches you out at inspection. Frequently Asked Questions Which ACT businesses must notify a food safety supervisor? Registered food businesses that prepare unpackaged, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food must nominate and notify an FSS to ACT Health. Businesses handling only low-risk or pre-packaged food may have lighter obligations. What qualification does an ACT food safety supervisor need? The FSS must hold qualif