Food businesses operating before 1 March 2016 must transition and be registered under the Food Act 2014 by 28 February 2019.
Food businesses operating and registered under either the Food Act 1981 or Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 would have been operating under a food safety programme (FSP). Under the Food Act 2014, FSPs are deemed to be food control plans, but only until 28 February 2019. After that, operators of food businesses must transition and register their respective food businesses under the Food Act 2014.
Most food businesses operating under a deemed food control plan should have applied to register their business under the new rules before 30 November 2018 as the registration process takes time, but they must do so before 28 February 2019.
Depending on your food business, you will be able to register under a:
- national programme;
- template food control plan; or
- custom food control plan.
Registering takes time, so if you haven’t registered you will need to do this as soon as possible. We provide guidance on how to do this in our “Food retail” and “Cafés, bars and restaurants” topics. If your business must operate under a food control plan and you don’t register your plan, the courts can fine you up to $50,000 or your business up to $200,000, so make sure you meet this legal obligation.
From the ComplyHub Team
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