The Food Act 2006 (the Act) requires every licensable food business in Queensland to have a food safety supervisor.
A food safety supervisor is a person who has advanced food safety skills and knowledge and has the ability to oversee the food safety operations of the food business on a day-to-day basis.
The food safety supervisor's role is to ensure the business is handling food safely. They can do this by instructing staff, reviewing and updating business procedures, and inspecting food handling operations and the premises. Where potential hazards are identified, it is the role of the food safety supervisor to make sure risks are managed and issues are prevented or corrected.
Under the Food Standards Code Australia and New Zealand Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety Management Tools, food safety supervisors must obtain food safety supervisor certification at least every 5 years. Food safety supervisor qualifications must be obtained from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
Further information on food safety supervisors, including RTO competency codes, can be found in Queensland Health’s Food Safety Supervisors – Food Act 2006.