Do cafés and restaurants need to appoint a certified Food Safety Supervisor (FSS)?
A computed answer from the Rules Mate applicability engine, with the exact condition, the outcome for every structure and size, and the primary source.
Short answer: Yes
Yes. This obligation applies to cafés and restaurants whatever their structure or size. The deciding fact: Industry: Cafés & restaurants.
The obligation in brief
Appoint a certified Food Safety Supervisor (FSS). 2A of the Food Standards Code (and state implementing legislation) requires Category 1 food service businesses to appoint a Food Safety Supervisor with nationally recognised FSS qualifications and a Food Safety Management Tool. Implementation varies by state — Vic, NSW, QLD have full regimes.
Trigger: Operating a Category 1 food premises.
Why cafés & restaurants get a different answer
Rules Mate runs its applicability engine across 9 business structures and 6 size bands for each of the 35 industries it maps. For 33 of those industries the answer for "Appoint a certified Food Safety Supervisor (FSS)" is no. Cafés & restaurants is one of the 2 where the answer is different: yes.
The deciding fact for cafés and restaurants: Industry: Cafés & restaurants.
About the industry: Food service businesses covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 and food safety standards.
Compare a professional services (general) business with 6–19 employees structured as a Pty Ltd company: the obligation does not apply (Requires industry: Cafés & restaurants / Hotels, pubs & licensed venues).
Answer by business structure and size
Each cell is the engine's outcome for a business in cafés & restaurants with that structure and size, assuming it sells to consumers and small businesses and holds customer contact details. "Check" means the obligation turns on a fact the industry does not settle.
| Structure | No employees | 1–5 employees | 6–19 employees | 20–99 employees | 100–499 employees | 500+ employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sole trader | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Partnership | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trust | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pty Ltd company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Public company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Not-for-profit (unregistered) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered charity | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Super fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What the obligation requires
- When due
- From premises commencement; FSS available during service.
- Evidence to keep
- FSS certificate, Food Safety Management Tool records.
- Maximum penalty
- State-specific infringement notices and prosecution
- Regulator
- FSANZ
- Jurisdiction
- Commonwealth (national)
Other obligations where cafés & restaurants differ from the norm
- Comply with Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL): Only if
- Food Act state licensing + food safety supervisor: Yes
- Implement Food Safety Management Tool (Standard 3.2.2A): Yes
- Implement Food Safety Program where prescribed (Standard 3.2.1): Only if
- Franchising Code of Conduct (mandatory industry code): Only if
- Hold valid liquor licence (state liquor licensing): Only if
- All 12 answers for cafés & restaurants
Other industries with a non-default answer
Questions
- Do cafés and restaurants need to appoint a certified Food Safety Supervisor (FSS)?
- Yes. This obligation applies to cafés and restaurants whatever their structure or size. The deciding fact: Industry: Cafés & restaurants.
- Is the answer the same for every industry?
- No. For 33 of the 35 industries Rules Mate maps, the answer is no. Cafés & restaurants is one of 2 industries with a different answer.
Related
Sources
Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine from the published obligation corpus; facts last checked 3 October 2026. Rules Mate is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with the regulator source or a qualified adviser before acting.