Advice for those starting their food businesses back up after COVID-19 or any other disaster
Although the following advice is from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website, https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/industry/Pages/Preparing-to-recommence-pre-restriction-operations.aspx?utm_source=CASE+Media+inbox&utm_campaign=ad030fb144-Food_Standards_News_Mar-18_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_eb3161ea76-ad030fb144- , to give guidance to those food businesses which are emerging from the COVID-19 restrictions, it can also be applied to any other disaster situation.
Before you re-open or re-commence operations you must check for any changes to business restrictions and whether any specific guidelines or requirements to recommence business apply in your state or territory.
It is important that food businesses (such as cafes and restaurants) are well prepared to recommence normal business operations after non-essential business restrictions have been lifted.
Some states and territories may have specific requirements such as completing a particular COVID-19 Food safety checklist.
Food regulators have also developed a voluntary tool to help food businesses prepare to recommence operations. Food businesses are encouraged to use this tool (in addition to any specific requirements) when preparing to recommence operations. Download the Food safety checks for food businesses (such as cafes and restaurants) preparing to recommence pre-restriction operations (PDF 215 KB).
State and territory specific guidelines and requirements for recommencing food business operations:
- ACT:COVID-19 information for businesses
- Northern Territory:Guidelines for food businesses
- NSW Food Authority: Advice for Food Businesses
- Safe Food Production Queensland:COVID-19 Advice for Food Businesses
- Queensland Government: Advice for food businesses
- SA Health:Advice for Food businesses and industry
- Tasmania:COVID-19 Food safety advice
- Health Vic:Advice for Food Businesses
- WA Health:Food safety and COVID-19
- New Zealand:COVID-19 and food safety
- Safe Work Australia:Workplace checklist