The Food Act 2008 (the Act) is the principal piece of legislation regulating the sale of food in Western Australia and provides food safety regulation over the entire food supply chain – from paddock to plate. The Act covers a wide range of food safety issues to ensure that consumers can be confident about the safety of what they were buying and eating. The Act applies to everyone involved in the sale of food in WA.

The Act adopts the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code which covers cleanliness, sanitation, hygiene, food serving practices and a whole range of other aspects that go into the preparation and provision of food.

This new legislation makes it clearer and simpler for food vendors to understand what is required of them when it comes to food safety. Previously WA had a number of different pieces of legislation that related to various aspects of food safety. Now this one piece of legislation replaces them all, making it clearer for business owners, employees and government organisations alike. WA food businesses will now need to meet the same administrative standards as food businesses elsewhere in Australia.

Local government will be responsible for the administration of the Act relating to food businesses operating within their district.

• Food Act 2008 (External site)

• Food Regulations 2009   (External link)(External site) 
• Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  (External site)

• Proclamation of Food Act 2008 - Health (Food and Pet Meat) Repeal Regulations 2009 (External site)

• Health (Food) Local Laws 2009 (External site)

The Food Act 2008

• The Food Act 2008 came into operation on 8 July 2008. Sections One and Two of the Act came into effect immediately with the remainder of the Act on 23 October 2009
  
  
• A framework for enforcement agencies to provide consistency in enforcement is available at WA Food Regulation: Compliance and Enforcement Guideline (PDF 354KB) - This guideline is under review
  
  
• An overview of the current perspectives of local government in relation to the Food Act 2008 can be viewed at WA Food Regulation: Local Government Perspective October 2009 (PDF 686KB)
  
  
• The Food Unit's Approach to the Act is described in WA Food Regulation: New Approach to Food Regulation Explained (PDF 313KB)
  
  
• The Policy outlining the development of brands with approval under the regulations is available at WA Food Regulation: Approved Brand under the Food Regulations 2009 (PDF 470KB) 
  
  
• Our approach to effective communication is explained in WA Food Regulation: Food Unit Communication Strategy (PDF 208KB)
  
  
• In regards to the Food Act 2008,  enforcement agencies' roles and responsibilities can be viewed at WA Food Regulation: Roles and Responsibilities of Enforcement Agencies in WA (PDF 227KB)

• To ensure consistent application of Standard 3.2.2 Clause 24, the Food Unit has provided information on Animals in Alfresco Areas
  
  
• The Food Unit has delivered a number of presentations concerning the Food Act 2008, compliance & enforcement policy and auditing. These Food Unit presentations are available to view as PDF documents. Some of these presentations were held before the Act was fully proclaimed on the 23^rd October 2009. This information should be taken into account when viewing this material.
   
• Any questions regarding the Food Act 2008 can be emailed to: foodunit@health.wa.gov.au. Your questions will be used to create a FAQ fact sheet

Also on this page:

• Additives
  
• Best before & use by
  
• Food labelling
  
• Food recalls
  
• Food safety programs - Under review
  
• Health Claims Watchdog (External link)

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