Australian Capital Territory

Food (Training Approval) Guidelines 2013 
(No 1) 
Notifiable Instrument NI2013-153
made under the
Food Act 2001, s 119 (Food safety training approval guidelines)

1	Name of instrument
This instrument is the Food (Training Approval) Guidelines 2013 (No 1).
2	Commencement 
This instrument commences on the commencement of the Food Amendment Act 2012, section 7. 
3	Purpose	
To be appointed a food safety supervisor, a person must undertake a food safety training course provided by a registered training organisation and approved by the Chief Health Officer. Guidelines for the approval of a food safety training course is required by section 119 the Food Act 2001. This instrument gives effect to that requirement. 
4	Approval
	The guidelines as set out in Schedule 1 are approved.

Dr Paul Kelly
Chief Health Officer
5 April 2013

Explanatory Notes

Food Safety Training Approval Guidelines

Guidelines are required for the approval by the Chief Health Officer of a food safety training course. 

These guidelines cover such matters as the food safety training requirements, the recognition of prior learning and the validity period of food safety training. It also provides for any changes in course codes that may occur that may affect a Chief Health Officer approval. 

The instrument can only come into effect on the commencement of the Food Amendment Act 2012, section 7. Section 7 inserts part 9A, Food Safety Supervisors into the Food Act 2001. However, in order for the food industry to be in the position of having a food safety supervisor appointed upon commencement of section 7 on 1 September 2013, the guidelines have been approved in advance. 

A person who undertakes an approved food safety training course may then be appointed by a registered food business in accordance with section 117 of the Food Act.  

Food Safety Training Approval Guidelines

These guidelines cover food safety training requirements, the recognition of prior learning and the validity period of food safety training. It also provides for any changes that may occur that may affect a Chief Health Officer approval. 

Food Safety Training 

The Australian Qualification Framework provides for competency units to be delivered by Registered Training Organisations. Certain competency units are therefore able to be prescribed as the relevant competency units. 

The following competency units identified in Table 1 and undertaken in a course delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) are the prescribed competency units. 

	Prescribed Competency Unit 	Unit Code*	
(a)	•	Use hygienic practices for food safety; and
Participate in safe food handling practices.	SITXFSA101º
SITXFSA201º	
(b)	•	Apply retail food safety practices	SIRRFSA001A	
Table 1 – Food Safety Training
*Codes are subject to change (accurate as February 2013) 
º These codes were previously known as SITXFSA001A (Implement food safety procedures) and SITXOHS002A (Follow workplace hygiene procedures). These competency units are recognised. 

Either (a) or (b) is required, however both competency units in (a) must be completed. 

It is acknowledged that unit titles and unit codes can change. For SITXFSA101 and SITXFSA201, the previous codes are recognised as comparable. If a unit title or the unit code is updated under the Australian Qualification Framework, the subsequent unit title or unit code is a recognised food safety training course. 

Evidence of satisfactory completion of the prescribed competency units is through a statement of attainment. Two or more statement of attainments may be provided as evidence of food safety training in the prescribed competency units, provided they meet the validity requirement. The statement of attainment should be retained as proof of food safety training. 

A statement of attainment that meets the minimum requirements for appointment as a food safety supervisor in an Australian State or the Northern Territory may be used in place of undertaking training in the prescribed competency units. An ‘external’ statement of attainment is subject to the validity requirement. 

RTOs may offer additional food safety training at their discretion that is additional to the prescribed competency units. A RTO may issue repeat qualifications that allow a person to continue to be a food safety supervisor at a registered food business.

I’M ALERT Food Handler Training 

I’M ALERT Food Handler Training (I’M ALERT) is an on-line training website hosted by Environmental Health Australia. I’M ALERT provides basic training in safe food handling. 

Businesses that do not sell potentially hazardous foods may appoint a person as food safety supervisor following their completion of the I’M ALERT course. Potentially hazardous food means food that must be kept at a stated temperature, or within a stated temperature range, to – 
(a)	minimise the growth of any pathogenic micro-organisms that may be in the food; or
(b)	prevent the formation of toxins in the food. 

Evidence of completion of the I’M ALERT training is required, constituted by the statement of attainment and the Training Acknowledgement Form issued by the website. These records should be retained as proof of food safety training.

A food business in this category may opt to appoint a food safety supervisor trained in the prescribed competency units listed in Table 1. 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

A statement of attainment issued by an RTO where a person’s previous skills, knowledge or experience have been assessed against the prescribed competency units is appropriate food safety training. A RTO may also provide credit toward one or more of the prescribed competency units in accordance with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL standards are set under the Australian Quality Framework. RPL must be undertaken with a RTO. 

Validity of Food Safety Training 

A statement of attainment that satisfies the prescribed training requirements will be valid for five years from date of issue. Retraining by a RTO or I’M ALERT will be required to obtain a new statement of attainment. 

It is an offence under section 19 of the Food Regulation 2002 if a proprietor appoints a food safety supervisor who holds a statement of attainment that is more than five years old.