Food business fines
Council officers can take action for breaches of food safety laws. This may happen after a routine inspection of a food business, or from an investigation of a complaint.
Under the Food Act 2003, Council officers can:
- issue a verbal or written warning
- issue a Penalty Infringement Notice (fine)
- institute legal action
- issue an Improvement Notice that requires work to be done within a given timeframe
- issue a Prohibition Order requiring the mandatory closure of a business until a further inspection has a satisfactory outcome
- seize food that is considered unsafe for human consumption.
Food businesses given a Penalty Infringement Notice (fine) may also be listed on the NSW Food Authority Name and Shame register.