Queensland Food Safety Supervisor Requirements

Who needs a Food Safety Supervisor in Queensland?

Under Standard 3.2.2A of the Food Standards Code — adopted in Queensland through the Food Act 2006 (QLD) — most food service and retail businesses must have a certified Food Safety Supervisor. Queensland Health administers food safety policy at a state level, but day-to-day compliance is enforced by local councils through environmental health officers who conduct food business inspections.

The requirement applies across all five industry sectors in Queensland:

• Hospitality — restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, takeaways, catering operations
• Retail — food retail shops, supermarkets, delis, butchers, bakeries
• Health and community services — aged care facilities, hospitals, disability services, school canteens
• Food processing — food manufacturing and processing businesses
• Transport and distribution — businesses involved in food storage or temperature-controlled distribution

The “reasonably available” requirement in Queensland

Queensland follows the national Standard 3.2.2A framework, which includes an important practical requirement: the FSS must be reasonably available at the food premises during food handling operations.

“Reasonably available” does not mean the FSS must be physically present every hour the business operates. In practice, it means:

• The FSS should be present or contactable during normal food handling activities
• The FSS should be able to respond promptly to food safety issues or questions from staff
• Short absences (a day off, a medical appointment) are acceptable
• The FSS should not be regularly absent for extended periods without a substitute arrangement

The 30-day rule: If the FSS is absent from the premises for more than 30 consecutive days, the food business should have a documented standard operating procedure (SOP) explaining how food safety is managed during the absence. In practice, this means either appointing a second certified FSS or having a clear documented plan that an environmental health officer can review during an inspection.

If the FSS permanently leaves the business (resignation, termination), a replacement must be appointed and certified as soon as practicable. There is no formal Queensland-legislated grace period for this, but having documentation of your steps to address the gap is important.

What training is required in Queensland?

The required training units in Queensland depend on the sector:

• Hospitality (restaurants, cafes, caterers, takeaways): SITXFSA005 + SITXFSA006
• Retail (delis, market stalls, food retail): SIRRFSA001 — or SITXFSA005+SITXFSA006 are also accepted
• Health and community services (hospitals, aged care, disability services): HLTFSE001 + HLTFSE005 + HLTFSE007
• Food processing (manufacturers, processors): FBPFSY2002 or FBPFSY1002

Training must be completed with a registered training organisation (RTO) listed on the ASQA National Register. Queensland does not operate a separate state-approved provider list — any nationally registered RTO offering the relevant units is accepted.

Category 1 and Category 2 in Queensland

Category 1 businesses handle unpackaged potentially hazardous food — restaurants, cafes, caterers, aged care facilities, school canteens. They must:

1. Have a certified FSS who is reasonably available
2. Provide food handler training to all food handling staff
3. Maintain evidence records (an evidence tool) demonstrating compliance

Category 2 businesses operate at lower food safety risk — retailers selling primarily pre-packaged goods, businesses with limited food preparation. They must:

1. Have a certified FSS
2. Provide food handler training to staff

Category 2 businesses are not required to maintain a formal evidence tool.

Local council enforcement in Queensland

Food safety inspections in Queensland are conducted by local council environmental health officers, not directly by Queensland Health. Different councils may apply the Standard 3.2.2A requirements with different emphasis. In practice, most Queensland councils apply the national standard consistently, but it is worth checking with your local council if you have questions about what is expected for your specific business type.

How to get certified as an FSS in Queensland

1. Choose any nationally registered RTO delivering SITXFSA005+SITXFSA006. No state-specific approved list applies in Queensland.
2. Enrol and complete the course. Fully online options are available. The course typically takes 6–8 hours.
3. Complete the online assessment for both units.
4. Receive your Statement of Attainment. The RTO issues this within 1–2 business days of successful assessment.
5. Keep the certificate on the premises. Available for inspection if requested by your council’s environmental health officer.

Certificate validity in Queensland

The FSS certificate is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.

Transition certificates: Standard 3.2.2A came into full effect for most Queensland businesses on 8 December 2023. Certificates issued before this date under the previous regime remain valid for 5 years from their issue date. When they expire, renewal under the current Standard 3.2.2A framework applies.

Governing legislation

• Food Act 2006 (QLD): legislation.qld.gov.au
• Standard 3.2.2A — Food Safety Management Tools: foodstandards.gov.au
• Queensland Health — food safety: qld.gov.au/health

Frequently asked questions

Does Queensland have a list of approved FSS training providers? No. Any nationally registered RTO delivering the relevant units for your sector is accepted. You can verify an RTO’s registration at training.gov.au (ASQA National Register).

Is the same certificate valid in QLD and other states? Yes. A nationally accredited Statement of Attainment is recognised in all Australian states and territories.

My FSS is going on extended leave for 6 weeks. Do I need a replacement? Yes, under the “reasonably available” standard. If your FSS will be absent for more than 30 consecutive days, you should either certify a second staff member as an FSS or have a documented food safety management plan in place for the period of absence. The simplest solution for a business that relies on a single FSS is to certify a second person — the online course can be completed quickly.

What do council inspectors look for when checking FSS compliance? Council environmental health officers will typically ask to see: the FSS certificate (Statement of Attainment) and confirm it is current (within 5 years of issue), that the FSS is the named person who is employed at the premises and reasonably available, evidence of food handler training for other staff, and (for Category 1 businesses) evidence records showing food safety practices are being followed.

Does the FSS need formal qualifications beyond the FSS certificate? No. The FSS simply needs to hold the current nationally accredited Statement of Attainment for SITXFSA005+SITXFSA006 (or SIRRFSA001 for retail). No other formal qualification or industry experience is legally required, though practical food safety knowledge is clearly important in the role.

Requirements may change. This information is for general guidance only. Always verify current requirements with Queensland Health or your local council. Last verified: April 2026.