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Health Policy, Regulations & Standards

The City of Sydney manages many aspects of environmental health in the city, either in partnership with other government agencies, or in some cases has sole responsibility.

Smoke-free environment

Since 2 July 2007 all enclosed areas of licensed premises that are open to the public are now required to be non-smoking, according to NSW legislation. All enclosed areas of Star City Casino with the exception of private gaming rooms must also be non-smoking.

For a definition of ‘enclosed’ please refer to the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000.

There are penalties if a person smokes in a smoke-free area. Environmental Health Officers based in NSW Public Health Units are authorised to enforce the legislation. Environmental Health Surveyors monitor compliance, investigate complaints and conduct inspections

Individuals are encouraged to take up complaints about non-compliance with the Smoke-free Environment Legislation directly with proprietors. Proprietors have their own legal obligations to ensure that patrons are not smoking. To obtain more information or to make a complaint, contact your local Public Health Unit or the Tobacco Information Line.

NSW Health – Tobacco Information Line   
Tel: 1800 357 412  
Email: tobacco@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/health-promotion/tobacco

The City of Sydney is responsible for enforcing other conditions of licensed premises, such as operating hours and noise levels. It responds to breaches of approval conditions for Places of Public Entertainment (POPEs), Restaurant Seating on Footways, and conditions of Development Consent.

The City of Sydney also has a role in reducing the impact of cigarette butt litter. People littering on the street can be fined by a City Ranger or Police Officer ($60 for an unlit or extinguished cigarette, $200 for a lit cigarette). Personal ashtrays are available free for individuals from the One Stop Shop and Neighbourhood Service Centres.

The Zero Waste Partners works with businesses to prevent pollution from their business or premises entering the stormwater system. It does this through education campaigns and materials, and by supplying businesses with one free wall mounted ashtray to install on their building exterior.

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Food shops and related issues

City of Sydney Environmental Health Officers regularly monitor food hygiene practices within food businesses for compliance with the Food Act 2003 and the Food Standards Code. Part of this role is to provide advice to food business owners and operators on these requirements. Council staff is easily contacted for food hygiene advice through Council’s customer call centre.

Microbial analysis of food contact surfaces and other possible sources of cross contamination are also done during routine inspections. This is used to promote awareness and education regarding microbial contamination.

The City of Sydney's Environmental Health Officers also follow up on complaints regarding either the quality of food, contamination of food, or unclean food premises. The City also works in partnership with the NSW Food Authority in addressing food related matters such as labelling, allergens in food and food borne illness investigations.

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Food Safety Supervisor – new food legislation

Important information for food businesses

Certain food businesses (like restaurants, cafes, takeaways, clubs, pubs) need to appoint at least one trained Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) in their business. Businesses have until 1 October 2011 to appoint a trained FSS and must also notify who their FSS is.

Notification can be done on-line via NSW Food Authority. There is no need to separately notify Council. By completing notification on line you can also ensure that your business is correctly notified to the Food Authority which is also a legal requirement. You can then easily update your business and FSS details in future.

Paper notification of a FSS can be made to Council. To notify by this method you should first complete a business notification to NSW Food Authority and then request a FSS notification form from the Health Unit which you simply complete and return.

Note training must be completed at a NSW Food Authority approved Registered Training Organisation.

To notify and for more information about this requirement including a list of approved training providers, visit the NSW Food Authority website www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au or phone the Authority’s Helpline 1300 552 406 (interpreting services available)

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Food hygiene factsheets

Council has produced some basic food hygiene guidance for food businesses that addresses some of the common issues found in food premises.

Downloads

If your business needs further clarification on any of these issues or any other food hygiene requirement then you can speak with one of Councils health officers by calling council on 02 9265 9220.

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Inner Sydney Councils Regional Food Group

The Inner Sydney Councils Regional Food Group (ISCRFG) is a collaboration of Inner Sydney Councils including City of Sydney, Ashfield, Burwood, Canterbury, Canada Bay, Leichhardt, Marrickville and Strathfield. The Councils within this group have committed to improving consistency throughout the region and aim to help food businesses in the area.

The ISCRFG have identified 5 critical areas and encourage you to download the following fact sheets.

Downloads

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Score on doors trial

Following success of the pilot scheme City of Sydney is continuing to participate in the food business rating system, called ‘Scores on Doors”.

The scheme was relaunched as a State-wide trial in July 2011 following review of the pilot study and now uses STAR RATINGS to represent the compliance levels of participating businesses.

The STAR ratings enable businesses to advertise that they have good hygiene standards, with more stars meaning a better hygiene score.

Participation in the scheme is free and businesses can still sign up. They simply need to complete the agreement form and submit this to Council.

To find out more information or to participate, please contact the City’s Health Unit on 02 9265 9220 or 02 9265 9597.

Downloads

Links

NSW Food Authority

Website: Scores on Doors - information for consumers

Website: Scores on Doors - information for industry

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Name and shame - NSW Food Authority

When a Council or other food enforcement agency in NSW issues a penalty notice (fine) for a breach of the food legislation, the details of the business will be published on the NSW Food Authority's website. Name and Shame Register.

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Free food hygiene workshops

Council is continuing with free workshops for anyone who operates or works in a food business in the City of Sydney area. These are a simple way to get food safety and hygiene messages across to your staff.

Although this is not a formal qualification the course is an excellent resource on food hygiene with practical tips and advice to help improve standards within your business. Making sure that food handlers have the right skills and knowledge is important and will help you to meet your legal obligations. It also makes good business sense. Improved knowledge and practices will:

  • Give your business a good reputation by showing customers that you take food safety serious
  • Reduce the risk of food borne illness
  • Reduce food waste
  • Improve staff confidence and moral which reduces turnover of staff
  • Improve food handling practices.

Workshops for 2012

Workshop

Date

Time

Location

Food Hygiene – Stage 1

28 February 2012

2pm - 5pm

Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney

Food Hygiene – Stage 1

27 March 2012

2pm - 5pm

Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney

Food Hygiene – Stage 1

24 April 2012

2pm - 5pm

Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney

Food Hygiene – Stage 1

29 May 2012

2pm - 5pm

Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney

Food Hygiene – Stage 1

26 June 2012

2pm - 5pm

Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney

Food Hygiene – Stage 1

24 July 2012

2pm - 5pm

Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney

Council also offer advanced and targeted workshops such as for temporary food stalls and Sushi outlets, subject to interest. The website will be updated if any additional workshops are added to the schedule.

These workshops do not qualify people as Food Safety Supervisors, but are a useful introduction. To be a Food Safety Supervisor you must attend an approved course operated by a Registered Training Organisation.

If you would like to attend a workshop please fill out the form below and fax to 02 9265 9750 or
email: healthbuildinginfo@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Please note that there is a maximum of 4 participants (2 for the Cantonese and mandarin workshops) per premises per session.

Download

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Final inspection of food shops

A standard condition of development consent requires most new food shops to be inspected by the City’s Health Unit before they can open for trade. Businesses will need to complete the checklist below and forward this to the Health Unit when requesting the final inspection giving at least 48 hours notice for the inspection.

You will also need to complete a new business notification form before a final inspection can be made.

Download

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Public health inspections

City of Sydney Environmental Health Officers undertake regular inspections of

  • Premises that conduct skin penetration procedures
  • Boarding houses and backpacker accommodation
  • Sex industry premises; and
  • Premises that provide hair and beauty treatment.

Examples of skin penetration premises include ear piercing, tattooists and acupuncturists to name a few. You can download Skin Penetration guidelines and a code of best practice from  NSW Health, which were produced to assist businesses comply with the legislation, and provide best practice solutions to infection control, ensuring the safety of clients and staff.

Routine inspection are carried out on the other public health industries to protect their clients, customers and the general community from possible disease transmission, and ensure infection control practices are in place.  

Download

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General nuisance complaints

The Local Government Act 1993 lists a number of orders covering a variety of general nuisances. The City's Environmental Health Surveyors regularly undertake inspections and serve notices dealing with such issues as accumulated rubbish, overgrown vegetation and unsightly articles.

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Cooling tower inspections

The Public Health Act 1991 requires that all cooling towers are registered with the corresponding local council due to the potential risks associated with Legionnaires Disease.

As there are over 2000 cooling towers within the City of Sydney LGA, Environmental Health Surveyors conduct regular inspection and samples to ensure compliance with acceptable microbial standards.

These standards are included in the NSW Code of Practice for the Control of Legionnaires Disease which you can download as a PDF document.

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Swimming pool sampling

The City of Sydney LGA includes approximately 200 public pools and spa baths of various sizes, all of which a regularly tested by Environmental Health Surveyors for chemical compliance, followed by microbiological sampling should the chemical sample fail.

Public pools are required, under the provisions of the Public Health Act 1991, to comply with NSW Swimming Pool Guidelines. You can download these guidelines as PDF documents.

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Environmental issues

In NSW, The Protection of Environment Operations Act 1997 provides the legislative basis for environmental protection in areas such as noise, air and storm water pollution, to name a few.

The Act provides City of Sydney Environmental Health Surveyors with regulatory tools including clean up, prevention and infringement notices, which are applied to the management of environmental issues and pollution events.

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Noxious weeds

The Noxious Weeds Act 1993 allows for the City of Sydney to declare certain weeds as noxious in its LGA. These weeds are then targeted by Environmental Health Surveyors, seeking their removal and ultimate control of the weeds.

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Legislation and codes of practice

The major pieces of legislation which can be found on the NSW Legislation website include:

  • Protection of Environment Operations Act 1997
  • NSW Public Health Act 1991
  • Food Act 2003
  • Local Government Act 1993
  • Noxious Weeds Act 1993.

Environmental Health Section Codes of Practice and General Information include the following:

  • Construction Hours/Noise within the Central Business District
  • Mobile Food Vendors – restriction from unsuitable roads
  • National Code for the Construction and Fit-out of Food Premises
  • Pigeon Information Sheet

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Downloads

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For more information

Food Standards Code

Website: www.foodstandards.gov.au

NSW Environment

Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au

NSW Food Authority

Website: www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au

NSW Health

Website: www.health.nsw.gov.au

NSW Legislation

Website: www.legislation.nsw.gov.au

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Please Note:
While care is taken to ensure accuracy, the City of Sydney cannot guarantee that information expressed here is correct and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. The City of Sydney makes no warranty or undertaking, whether expressed or implied, nor does it assume any legal liability, whether direct or indirect.