A BILL passed through the Assembly today will require food businesses convicted of food safety offences to be placed on a public register.

The Food Amendment Act 2011, will also require food businesses to display their certificate of registration, display any closure notices and have a trained food safety supervisor.

According to Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher, the amended Act will provide consumers with more information “so they can make more informed choices about where they dine out, improving food safety in the ACT and ensuring increased regulatory transparency”.

“The amendments made today will see the end of misleading signs such as ‘Closed for Renovation’ posted at outlets that are actually shut due to serious food safety breaches,” she said.

“These businesses will now have to display a closure notice informing the public that they need to fulfil certain conditions before they can re-open.

“To further enhance regulatory transparency, details of food businesses convicted of offences against the Food Act will now be listed on a publicly available register.

“This bill is also about tightening up food safety by ensuring businesses have a staff member trained in food safety – such as safe food preparation and handling practices, effective from August 2013.”

Gallagher said the Government has also flagged a food safety rating system as the next step towards greater food safety in the food business industry.

“We’ve flagged that as the next stage, and we are consulting with industry around that,” she said.

“I prefer a ‘scores on doors’ scheme where everyone  tries to be an A-rated restaurant because I think that drives for continuous improvements. Industry has some concerns about how that will be implemented so we need to talk to them.”

She said the Health Directorate will work closely with industry and training providers to implement the amendments.