6 months to meet new requirements under Standard 3.2.2A of the Food Standards Code

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in New South Wales have six months to  meet new requirements under Standard 3.2.2A of the Food Standards Code.

Standard 3.2.2A applies to businesses that sell or serve unpackaged food requiring temperature control directly to consumers. 

It introduces two or three food safety requirements depending on the business: 

• appointing a qualified Food Safety Supervisor;
• training all food handlers, and; 
• being able to demonstrate safe food practices.

A Food Safety Supervisor is someone associated with the business who is certified to have skills and knowledge in food safety. Training is delivered by registered training organisations.

ECEC settings, school canteens, supermarkets and a range of other retail food businesses are impacted by the amendment made last year to the NSW Food Regulations, impacting almost all businesses that serve food. 

Children’s services that supply food, supermarkets, greengrocers, delis, coffee vendors that sell food, correctional centres and boarding schools were granted an extension until 8 December 2024 to comply with the changes, with the amendment also exempting the handling or sale of food for raising funds solely for community or charitable causes from all Standard 3.2.2A requirements.  

NSW Food Authority CEO Dr Lisa Szabo said most retail food businesses in NSW had been required to have a Food Safety Supervisor for almost a decade, however there were some exemptions.

“The new standard, Standard 3.2.2A, applied the Food Safety Supervisor requirement nationally, meaning that children’s services, school canteens, supermarkets, greengrocers, delis, coffee vendors, correctional centres and boarding schools in NSW now need to appoint one for the first time,” she said.

“The additional 12 months for previously-exempt businesses in NSW was a direct result of feedback to the Food Authority that these requirements were a huge change and more time was needed.”  

The Food Authority has developed a range of resources to help businesses prepare, including personalised guides for school canteens, children’s services, and supermarkets.

Visit the Standard 3.2.2A webpage for more information.