A food safety supervisor is a person who has advanced food safety skills and knowledge and must have the authority to supervise and give directions about matters relating to food safety to people who handle food in a food business. They have an important role in sharing skills and knowledge, and improving awareness of what can happen if food is unsafe – that is, foodborne illness and injury and its impacts. Therefore, it is their responsibility to make sure the business is handling food safely. Most licensed food business in Australia must have at least one food safety supervisor to ensure food is being handled safely.

Under the Food Standards Code, Standard 3.2.2A, food businesses must obtain a food safety supervisor certification at least every five years. The food safety supervisor should be able to provide their certificate to an authorised officer, if requested. A food safety supervisor requires training based on the food sector that they are working in.