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Food Businesses

There are almost 1000 food businesses operating in the Parramatta City local government area. Council wants to ensure that these food businesses have safe food handling practices set by the NSW Food Authority, providing their consumers with healthy and safe food products

If you own or operate a food business within Parramatta, you must read the following information.

Register your Business

All food businesses must be registered with the NSW Food Authority. You can do this online at the New South Wales Food Authority (www.foodnotify.nsw.gov.au).

Council Requirements, Guidelines and Permits

Food Safety Supervisors

New food laws introduced in NSW require certain food businesses in the hospitality and retail food service sector to appoint at least one trained Food Safety Supervisor (FSS). These new requirements are to help safeguard NSW consumers from food borne illness.

The Food Safety Supervisor must be trained by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) approved by the NSW Food Authority. For a list of approved RTOs please go to NSW Food Authority website. For more information regarding Food Safety Supervisors please go to NSW Food Authority website

At this stage there are only 3 organisations within the Parramatta Area who are offering the training in alternate language;

  1. Jobquest: Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese - phone: 9897 5431
  2. Sydney Technical Institute: Mandarin, Vietnamese - phone: 8355 3443
  3. National Training Organisation Pty Ltd: Chinese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Teowchew (a Chinese dialect), and Vietnamese - phone: 9680 0788

Food Safety Enforcement

While Council plays an important role in educating and informing business operators and staff of their food safety responsibilities, Council also has a regulatory role in enforcing food laws. As a consequence, Council officers can undertake regulatory action for breaches of the food laws.  

The regulatory tools available to Council officers under the Food Act 2003 include:

  • The issue of a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) which is an on-the-spot fine.
  • The institution of legal action.
  • The issue of an Improvement Notice (clean up) to require work to be done with a minimum 24 hours compliance period.
  • The issue of a Prohibition Order to require the mandatory closure of a business until a further inspection discloses a satisfactory outcome. A Prohibition Order can also apply to an unsatisfactory food vehicle or a specific appliance.
  • The power to seize item(s) of food which are considered unsafe for human consumption.
  • The use of a Notice under Section 124 of the Local Government Act 1993.

In the interests of maintaining general community health standards and preventing potential food poisoning incident(s), Council is anxious to ensure that the food safety and hygiene aspects of each food business are maintained at the highest standard.

Additional information on the enforcement approach can be obtained from the Environment and Public Health Enforcement Policy – Parramatta City Council Web Link

Administration Fees

The Food Regulation 2010 introduced an annual administration charge applicable to food premises. The fee is separate to the fee charged for the food premises inspection.

Parramatta City Council charges an annual administration fee of $250.00 per food premises.

Frequently Asked Questions - Food Business
  • Why does Council charge an annual inspection fee? In the case of Environmental Health inspections, fees were introduced contribute to the costs of inspection, administration, education and compliance services.

    A re-inspection fee may also be charged if a non-compliant premises requires additional inspections.
  • What is the Legal basis for charging fees? Section 608 of the Local Government Act 1993 provides that Council's in NSW may charge approved fees for various services provided.

    The current fees and charges are detailed in the Schedule of Fees and Charges Parramatta City Council

    Failure to pay fees may result in the debt being referred to a debt collection agency and details may be forwarded to credit authorities in the event of non-payment.

Have you notified your food business with the NSW Food Authority? The New National Food Safety Standards are now in place. These standards require you to register your food business details with the NSW Food Authority.

You can notify online at the NSW Food Authority Website or www.foodnotify.nsw.gov.au There is no charge for notifying on the internet.

Making a complaint about a food premises

If you have a problem with food or a food business you can contact either Parramatta City Council or the NSW Food Authority.

Contact details for the NSW Food Authority are:

  • Telephone on 1300 552 406
  • Facsimile on (02) 9647 0026
  • Email on contact@foodauthority.nsw.gov.au
  • Letter to:
    Consumer & Industry Contact Centre
    c/- NSW Food Authority
    PO Box 6682, SILVERWATER, NSW, 1811.

Contact details for Parramatta City Council are:

  • Telephone on 9806 5050
  • Facsimile on (02) 98065917
  • Email on council@parracity.nsw.gov.au
  • Letter to:
    Parramatta City Council
    PO Box 32
    Parramatta NSW 2124

The Authority and Parramatta City Council have agreed to refer complaints to each other depending on who is best placed to address them. Either way, your complaint gets into the system and will be dealt with by the most appropriate organisation.

It is important that if you are feeling unwell you should separately seek medical advice.

 

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