The NSW Government has launched a crackdown on restaurants and food outlets across Sydney’s CBD in the lead up to the busy summer period.
Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the blitz would target that small group of operators that were “ignoring the rules and doing the wrong thing”.
He said a joint taskforce has been formed between the NSW Food Authority and Sydney City Council. "Food Authority inspectors are already out there visiting outlets in the CBD in a series of unannounced inspections—this will continue for the next few months,” he said. “Food safety is an issue this Government takes seriously—we want 100 per cent compliance.”
"The vast majority of food outlets are doing the right thing and putting the public’s health first, but the message is clear to those who aren’t following the rules: you need to clean up your act or you’ll find yourself fined or in court."
Minister Macdonald said the action follows new laws empowering councils as food safety enforcers as well as new "name and shame" laws allowing the NSW Food Authority to publish food law violations on its website.
More than 175 premises are now listed on the Name and Shame website.
Mr Macdonald said: "The information published on the website gives the people of NSW a choice, while giving businesses the added incentive to do the right thing. "Food businesses found to be in breach of laws may face a range of sanctions ranging from a warning letter to prosecution, with fines of up to $110,000 for individuals or imprisonment for two years or both, and $550,000 for corporations."
