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FOOD ACT 1984

Table of Provisions

PART I--PRELIMINARY

  • 1 Short title  
  • 2 Commencement  
  • 3 Objects of Act  
  • 4 Definitions  
  • 4A Meaning of food  
  • 4B Meaning of food business  
  • 4C Meaning of primary food production  
  • 4D Meaning of unsafe food  
  • 4E Meaning of unsuitable food  
  • 4F Reference to proprietors of premises  
  • 4G Food vending machines deemed to be food premises  
  • 4H Reference in Food Standards Code to appropriate enforcement agency  
  • 4I Declared authority for the purposes of references in Chapter 4 of the Food Standards Code  
  • 5 Orders  
  • 6 Act binds the Crown  
  • 6A Application of Act to primary food production  
  • 6B Application of Act to water suppliers and water storage managers  
  • 7 Extension to places outside municipal districts  

PART IA--ADMINISTRATION AND REPORTING

PART II--OFFENCES RELATING TO FOOD

Division 1--Serious offences relating to food

  • 8 Knowingly handling food in unsafe manner  
  • 8A Handling food in unsafe manner in other circumstances  
  • 9 Knowingly selling unsafe food  
  • 9A Sale of unsafe food in other circumstances  
  • 10 Knowingly falsely describing food  
  • 10A Falsely describing food in other circumstances  

Division 2--Other offences relating to food

  • 11 Handling and sale of unsafe food  
  • 12 Handling and sale of unsuitable food  
  • 13 Misleading conduct relating to sale of food  
  • 14 Sale of food not complying with purchaser's demand  
  • 15 Sale of unfit equipment or packaging or labelling material  
  • 16 Compliance with Food Standards Code  
  • 17 Proprietor's name to be affixed to premises  
  • 17A False descriptions of food  
  • 17B Application of provisions outside jurisdiction  

Division 3--Defences

  • 17C Defence relating to publication of advertisements  
  • 17D Defence in respect of food for export  
  • 17E Defence of due diligence  
  • 17F Defence of mistaken and reasonable belief not available  
  • 17G Defence in respect of handling food  
  • 17H Defence in respect of sale of unfit equipment or packaging or labelling material  

PART IIA--KILOJOULE LABELLING SCHEME

Division 1--Definitions

Division 2--Requirement for proprietor of chain food premises to display kilojoule information

  • 18D Requirement for proprietor of chain food premises to display kilojoule information  
  • 18E Chain food premises—manner and location of display of kilojoule information  

Division 3--Requirement for proprietor of chain supermarket to display kilojoule labelling

  • 18F Requirement for proprietor of chain supermarket to display kilojoule information  
  • 18G Chain supermarket—manner and location of display of kilojoule information  

Division 4--Exemptions

  • 18H Exemptions  

PART III--ORDERS

PART IIIA--UNDERTAKINGS

  • 19BB Secretary may accept undertaking  
  • 19BC Consent orders and enforcement of undertaking  

PART IIIB--FOOD SAFETY

Division 1--Classification of food premises

Division 2--Minimum record keeping

  • 19CB Minimum record keeping  

Division 3--Food safety programs

Division 4--Food safety supervisors

  • 19G Food safety supervisors  
  • 19GA Requirement for food safety supervisor  
  • 19GB Name of supervisor to be provided on request  

Division 5--Assessment and audit of food premises

Division 6--Food safety auditors

  • 19O Only approved auditor may conduct audit  
  • 19P Certification of food safety auditors  
  • 19Q Auditor must comply with conditions of certification  
  • 19R Offence to impersonate approved auditor  
  • 19S Conflict of interest  
  • 19T Revocation of approval to act as an auditor  
  • 19U Audit by council staff  

Division 7--Miscellaneous

PART IV--AUTHORIZED OFFICERS

PART V--ANALYSTS

PART VI--REGISTRATION OF FOOD PREMISES

Division 1--General

Division 2--Notification of premises exempt from registration

  • 38AA Procedure for notification  
  • 38AB Notification fee  

Division 3--Registration of food premises

  • 38A Information required to accompany application for registration  
  • 38B Requirements for registration  
  • 38C Information required to accompany application for renewal of registration  
  • 38D Requirements for renewal of registration  
  • 38E Conditional registration  
  • 38F Change in operation of registered food premises  
  • 38G Change of food safety program type  
  • 39 Inspection of premises by registration authority  
  • 39A Registration etc. may be made despite minor defects  
  • 39B Offence to fail to comply with registration condition  
  • 39C Contravention of section 34 of the Meat Industry Act 1993  
  • 40 Certificates of registration  
  • 40A Certificates must be shown on demand  
  • 40B Minister may specify period of registration  
  • 40C Period for which registration lasts  
  • 40D Revocation or suspension of registration  
  • 40E Secretary may direct council to revoke or suspend a registration  
  • 40F Cancellation of registration  
  • 41A Registration fees  
  • 42 Appeal  
  • 43 Records of registration  
  • 43A Transitional provision  

Division 4--Single notification or registration scheme

  • 43B Application of Division to areas of land not within municipal district  
  • 43C Single notification or registration scheme  
  • 43D Principal premises of food business  
  • 43E Declaration of requirements for notification or registration  
  • 43F Notification or registration under the single notification or registration scheme  
  • 43G Certificate of registration  
  • 43H Declaration of requirements for statement of trade  
  • 43I Statement of trade  

PART VII--EMERGENCY POWERS

  • 44 Making of order  
  • 44A Nature of order  
  • 44B Special provisions relating to recall orders  
  • 44C Manner of making orders  
  • 44D Compensation  
  • 44E Failure to comply with emergency order  
  • 44F Person has no right to be heard before order made  
  • 44G Secretary may obtain enforcement order  

PART VIII--LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

  • 45 Proceedings for offences  
  • 45AA Responsible agency for the Crown  
  • 45AB Proceedings against successors to public bodies  
  • 45AC Power to bring proceedings  
  • 45A Burden of proof as to statements on packages etc.  
  • 45B Prosecutions  
  • 46 Right of accused to have third person before court  
  • 46A Analysis is not necessary to conviction  
  • 47 Power of court to order further analysis  
  • 48 Power of court to order forfeiture  
  • 49 Liability of accused for certain costs and expenses  
  • 50 Evidentiary provisions  
  • 50AA Evidentiary certificate signed by the Secretary DHHS  
  • 50AAB Evidentiary certificate signed by the Secretary DJPR or the chief executive officer of DFSV or PrimeSafe  
  • 50AB Evidentiary certificate signed by chief executive officer of a council  
  • 50AC Evidence of signatures  
  • 50A Alternative verdicts for serious food offences  
  • 51 Offences by bodies corporate  
  • 51A Criminal liability of officers of bodies corporate—accessorial liability  
  • 51B Criminal liability of officers of bodies corporate—failure to exercise due diligence (legal burden of proof)  
  • 52 Offences by unincorporated bodies, partnerships etc.  
  • 52A Offences by employers  
  • 52B Liability of employees and agents  
  • 53 General penalty  
  • 53A Court may order costs and expenses  
  • 53B Court may order corrective advertising  

PART VIIIA--PUBLICATION OF CONVICTIONS

  • 53C References to appeal against conviction  
  • 53D Register of convictions  
  • 53E Publication of information on register  
  • 53F Information that must not be included in register  
  • 53G Obtaining information for inclusion in the register  
  • 53H Correction of register  
  • 53I Removal of record of conviction from register  
  • 53J Additional information  

PART IX--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

  • 54 Secrecy  
  • 54A Confidential food information may be given to the Secretary  
  • 54B Confidential food information may be given to the Food Safety Council  
  • 54C Confidential food information may be given to a council  
  • 54D Confidential food information may be given to a public statutory body  
  • 55 Mode of service of documents and certain samples  
  • 56 Protection against liability  
  • 56A Infringements  
  • 57 Payment of penalties  
  • 58 Victorian Liquor Commission to be notified of certain matters  
  • 58A Delegation by council  
  • 58AB Delegations by Secretary DJPR, the DFSV or PrimeSafe  
  • 58B Matters occurring outside registration area  
  • 59 False and misleading statements  
  • 59A Destroying or damaging records  
  • 59B Validity and effect of notices, orders and other documents  
  • 59C Cost recovery in respect of failure to comply with direction or notice  

PART X--FOOD SAFETY COUNCIL

  • 60 Establishment of the Council  
  • 60A Functions  
  • 60B Powers  
  • 60C Members of the Council  
  • 60D Conditions of office of members  
  • 60E Procedure at meetings  
  • 60F Report on operations  
  • 60G Use of assistants  
  • 60H Members must not disclose confidential information  
  • 60I Council the successor of the Food Standards Committee  

PART XI--REGULATIONS

PART XII--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR FOOD (AMENDMENT) ACT 2001

  • 63C Existing orders to continue  
  • 63D Extended application of Division 3 of Part IIIA  

PART XIII--TRANSITIONAL AND SAVINGS PROVISIONS FOR PART 2 OF THEFOOD AMENDMENT (REGULATION REFORM) ACT 2009

  • 64 Definitions  
  • 65 Minimum record keeping  
  • 66 Food safety program templates  
  • 67 Inspections  
  • 68 Audits  
  • 69 Food safety auditors  
  • 70 Registration and notification of food premises  
  • 71 Grounds for revocation or suspension of registration or direction by the Secretary  
  • 72 Food (Forms and Registration) Regulations 2005  
  • 73 Register of convictions  
  • 74 First declaration under section 19C  
  • 75 Declarations made and exemptions granted before commencement  
  • 76 Transitional regulations  

PART XIV--TRANSITIONAL AND SAVINGS PROVISIONS FOR PART 4 OFFOOD AMENDMENT (REGULATION REFORM) ACT 2009

PART XV--TRANSITIONAL AND SAVINGS PROVISIONS

  • 80 Transitional provision—Primary Industries and Food Legislation Amendment Act 2012  
  • 81 Transitional provision—Statute Law Amendment (Directors' Liability) Act 2013  
  • 82 Transitional provision—Food Amendment Act 2020  

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