Auditors

A food safety auditor can only audit food premises after being approved by Safe Food Victoria under the Food Act 1984 (the Act).

Food safety auditors must audit a food business to check that the business:

• has an adequate food safety program
• is complying with its food safety program, the Act and applicable standards.

Following the audit, providing the business is fully complying, the auditor must provide an audit certificate to the council within 14 days of giving the certificate to the business. That certificate must be one of:

• a certificate of compliance
• a certificate detailing that corrective actions have been taken to address deficiencies or any outstanding matters, if an audit has revealed non-compliances at the premises.

Should the auditor identify any deficiencies that may lead to a serious risk of food being sold or prepared that is unsafe or unsuitable, then the auditor must inform the council and Safe Food Victoria as soon as practicable.

The Act specifically addresses auditor conflict of interest. It states an auditor must not conduct the food safety audit of a premises if the auditor has written or assisted in preparing the food safety program for that premises.

For more information on food safety assessment and audit requirements refer to the audits and inspections page.

Food safety auditor certification

To obtain an application form and further information regarding requirements to apply for approval to be a food safety auditor under the Act, please contact Safe Food Victoria.

Audits at Safe Food Victoria meat, poultry and seafood licensed facilities are conducted by Safe Food Victoria approved third-party auditing companies..

Email your written proposal to Safe Food Victoria to become a certified third-party auditing company. The proposal must include details and evidence confirming the following:

• Accreditation with the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) or be pursuing such accreditation. Accreditation must be achieved within six months of applying for such accreditation.
• The third-party auditing company and the auditors employed by the third-party auditing company must meet the fit and proper person requirements of the Meat Industry Act 1993 and the Seafood Safety Act 2003.
• The third-party auditing company and the auditors employed by the third-party auditing company must be qualified to national competency standards.

You will enter into a Quality Assurance Audit Agreement with SFV when you are approved to perform independent audits of food businesses.

For more information on audits refer to the audits and inspections page.