Food safety legislation is designed to improve community health, increase community confidence and awareness of food safety and to ensure that South Australia meets national standards.
Charities and community groups that sell food, or provide food as part of a service that is paid for, are a food business for the purpose of the
Food Act 2001. They must therefore comply with the requirements of the
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) set the standards in partnership with the governments of Australia and New Zealand.
The three Food Safety Standards used Australia-wide provide the rules about how food is handled and prepared, and the appropriate equipment that should be used to maintain food safety. The Standards are:
For copies of the food legislation, industry-specific fact sheets, food safety bulletins and education material visit the
Department of Health website.
The following legislation applies to most food businesses in South Australia.
To help charities and community groups understand how food laws apply to them, a
food safety information kit has been developed by the Department of Health and FSANZ. This kit outlines practical steps to meet obligations under current laws.
Printed copies of the kit are available from the Department of Health Food Policy and Programs Branch by emailing
food@health.sa.gov.au, or through your local council.