Answer a few questions and instantly see what your Australian food business requires, Food Safety Supervisor, temperature logs, cleaning schedule, Food Safety Program and council registration, aligned with the FSANZ Food Standards Code.
A Food Safety Compliance Checker is a free tool that asks about ten questions about your food business and then tells you what you are likely required to have, such as a Food Safety Supervisor, temperature logs, a cleaning schedule, or a Food Safety Program. It helps you understand your obligations under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and state requirements. Its purpose is to turn confusing regulations into a plain-English list of what applies to your specific business. You can download the results as a free PDF to use as a starting checklist for getting compliant. When to use it: When starting a food business and you are unsure what rules apply to you.. Before registering or notifying your local council, to know what they will expect.. When changing your menu or service style in a way that may change your risk level.. Before a council inspection, to confirm you have the required systems in place.. During a periodic review to check nothing in your obligations has been missed.. How to use it: Answer the questions about your food type, handling, service and business size. Review the generated summary of what you are likely required to have. Download the free PDF list of requirements as your compliance starting point. Use the linked free tools to produce the plans, logs and checklists identified. Confirm anything state-specific with your local council, then act on the list. Do I need a Food Safety Supervisor? Businesses that handle unpackaged potentially hazardous food that is ready to eat, such as most cafes, restaurants and takeaways, generally need a trained Food Safety Supervisor. The checker asks about what you handle to indicate whether this applies to you. What is a potentially hazardous food? Potentially hazardous food is food that must be kept at controlled temperatures to keep it safe, because bacteria can grow in it. Examples include cooked rice and pasta, meat, dairy, seafood, cooked vegetables and prepared salads. These foods drive most compliance requirements. Do I need to register my food business with council? Food businesses generally must register or notify their local council before they start trading. The council uses this to assess your risk and schedule inspections. The checker flags this, but you confirm the exact process with your council. Do all businesses need a Food Safety Program? No. A formal Food Safety Program is required for certain higher-risk activities and varies by state, so not every venue needs one. The checker indicates whether it is likely relevant, and your council or state regulator confirms it. Is this checker a substitute for council advice? No. It gives you a reliable plain-English guide to your likely obligations under the Food Standards Code, but requirements vary by state and council, so always confirm the specifics with your local council before relying on the result. Can FoodSafety HQ help me meet the requirements it lists? Yes. Once the checker identifies what you need, FoodSafety HQ can run those systems digitally, including temperature logs, cleaning schedules and audits, so you can move from knowing your obligations to meeting them in one place.
How to use the Food Safety Compliance Checker
Answer the questions about your food type, handling, service and business size.
Review the generated summary of what you are likely required to have.
Download the free PDF list of requirements as your compliance starting point.
Use the linked free tools to produce the plans, logs and checklists identified.
Confirm anything state-specific with your local council, then act on the list.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Food Safety Supervisor?
Businesses that handle unpackaged potentially hazardous food that is ready to eat, such as most cafes, restaurants and takeaways, generally need a trained Food Safety Supervisor. The checker asks about what you handle to indicate whether this applies to you.
What is a potentially hazardous food?
Potentially hazardous food is food that must be kept at controlled temperatures to keep it safe, because bacteria can grow in it. Examples include cooked rice and pasta, meat, dairy, seafood, cooked vegetables and prepared salads. These foods drive most compliance requirements.
Do I need to register my food business with council?
Food businesses generally must register or notify their local council before they start trading. The council uses this to assess your risk and schedule inspections. The checker flags this, but you confirm the exact process with your council.
Do all businesses need a Food Safety Program?
No. A formal Food Safety Program is required for certain higher-risk activities and varies by state, so not every venue needs one. The checker indicates whether it is likely relevant, and your council or state regulator confirms it.
Is this checker a substitute for council advice?
No. It gives you a reliable plain-English guide to your likely obligations under the Food Standards Code, but requirements vary by state and council, so always confirm the specifics with your local council before relying on the result.
Can FoodSafety HQ help me meet the requirements it lists?
Yes. Once the checker identifies what you need, FoodSafety HQ can run those systems digitally, including temperature logs, cleaning schedules and audits, so you can move from knowing your obligations to meeting them in one place.