Hume City Council

Vision


Hume City Council’s vision is to foster a community which is active and healthy.  Underpinning this vision is a requirement to ensure that the exercise of legislative authority is equitable and consistent with principles of good government, due process and fairness. 



Key Challenges / Drivers


Hume City Council recognises that there is a need for interdependent strategies to achieve effective food safety management and compliance by food business owners. The strategies need to ensure the active participation of the local food industry and its representatives, ensure ongoing education and information to food businesses and support food business owners in meeting their compliance responsibilities.



Objectives



Hume City Council’s main objectives are to provide a framework for:

- The management of Council’s legislated food safety responsibilities and related due diligence issues.

- Consistent and equitable exercise of delegated powers and discretion in the delivery of food safety management services.
- Development of effective management processes and procedures based on food safety performance of businesses.
- Maximising compliance by the local food industry with the legislation.

Role of Council / Key Action Areas

Hume City Council’s policy approach to food safety management is as follows:
- Council recognises the importance of working in partnership with the food industry and the State Government to achieve the overall purpose of food safety management.
- Council recognises, supports and encourages a co-regulatory approach to implementing food safety legislation strategies.
- Council acknowledges and values the diverse cultural fabric of the community. In acknowledging this diversity, Council encourages cultural food manufacturing practices to comply with legislative requirements.
- Food safety co-regulation will be achieved by Council being satisfied that a food business has a Food Safety Program (FSP) that is working effectively and food business proprietors that can demonstrate that its FSP is adequate.
- Council is committed to the implementation and administration of its legal obligations for Food Safety Management by applying industry best practice standards and professional practice standards and will look to the Municipal Association of Victoria and Environmental Health Professionals Australia as peak bodies in identifying, defining and refining best practice and professional practice standards.
- Food safety outcomes will be managed according to risk and will take into account the risk classification of the business operations and food safety performance.
- Non-compliance with the legislation will be managed as outlined in the policy documents.

The Council will set out to achieve its objectives by:
- Regular reviews of the Council’s Food Safety Management Procedure Manual.
- Communicating legislative requirements and Council policies to the local food industry via food news (a quarterly newsletter publication), regular food safety information sessions and assessments or inspections of registered food premises.
- The implementation of food safety and industry compliance monitoring programs and processes.
- Implementing recommendations arising from Council audits.
- Implementing Food Safety Management Procedures which are focussed on and meet Council’s statutory responsibilities.

Link to Strategy

https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/Your-Council/Governance/Council-Plans-Reports-and-Policies/Council-Policies/Food-Safety-Management-Policy