When an environmental health officer inspects

Failing to comply with the Food Standards Code is itself an offence in WA (Food Act 2008 (WA) section 22(1)).

An improvement notice (section 62) is served on the proprietor. It runs for 24 hours by default (section 63(1)), longer only if the notice says so, and an extension has to be granted before the period ends.

A prohibition order (section 65) stops some or all of the business. The proprietor may ask for a reinspection at any time. If no inspection happens within 48 hours through no fault of the proprietor, clearance is taken to have been given (section 67(3)).

Registration does not expire (section 111). It runs until cancelled, and the annual fee recurs. A change of activity is notified within 7 days (section 113).

Records under Standard 3.2.2A must be available to an authorised officer at the premises whenever the business is operating.

Every WA food business registered with its local government. There is no state inspection form: each of WA's local governments uses its own.

An officer will usually look at how food is handled and stored, temperatures, cleaning, pests, the premises and equipment, and your records. Have your supervisor's certificate, a working thermometer and your recent records within reach.

If the officer finds something, fix it and record what you did. For a notice, act at once and ask early if you need more time.

WA adds one duty the Code does not contain. Under regulation 15 of the Food Regulations 2009 (WA), a proprietor who is told of the isolation, or suspected isolation, of Listeria monocytogenes, any Salmonella or Shigella species, or verotoxigenic E. coli from food, a person, the premises, a vehicle or anything else connected with the business must give oral notice to the CEO of the Department of Health immediately, then written notice in the approved form within 24 hours of the oral notice. A staff member's illness can trigger it, and suspicion is enough. This applies in WA only.