Environmental Health Services
Kentish Council provides a range of Environmental Health Services as required under Tasmanian Law.
Documents relating to some of these services can be found below, or alternatively you can contact Councils Environmental Health Officer on 6491 0200.
Mobile Food Businesses
For information on Mobile food Businesses click on the following links:
Mobile Food Vending Application Form
Guidelines for Mobile Food Businesses
Food Safety and Licencing
The safety and quality of food is regulated and monitored by the Department of Health and Human Services in conjunction with local councils. Under the requirements of the Tasmanian Food Act 2003, food premises are required to be registered by their respective Local Government Authority.
The handling and selling of food is categorised from very low risk, such as selling pre-packaged food in canteens to higher risk activities such as food preparation in restaurants. Council is required to regularly inspect these premises to ensure that they comply with the Australian Food Safety Standards and the Tasmanian Food Act 2003.
Food Safety Training
From December 2023, certain food service and food retail businesses in Tasmania will be required to appoint at least one trained Food Safety Supervisor (FSS). A Food Safety Supervisor is a person who:
- is trained to recognise and manage food safety risks
- hold a current certifiate
- can advise and supervise other food handlers at the business
- works on the premises and is involved in the day-to-day food handling operations of the business.
If you operate or work in a food business it is a requirement to demonstrate safe food handling skills and knowledge. One way to do this is to complete a Food Safety course.
Food safety training is held on a regular basis. Please contact Council's Environmental Health Officer for more information on 6426 4444.
Training Opportunity
Council has gained access to some free online training - this can be completed in addition or ‘stand-alone’ to the face to face training that is routinely offered. This training, endorsed by Environmental Health Australia, will assist you and your staff to develop the essential skills and knowledge required to ensure safe food for your customers and to comply with your obligations under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The program uses animation, narration, interactive tasks and quizzes in a logical and easy learning format. The 'essential' food safety certificate can be printed upon completing the course.
Additional providers of food safety training are:
The DoFoodSafely training program gives participants knowledge about how to safely handle food in a commercial setting. The course is available in four languages (English, Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese).
The I’m Alert Food Safety program is another free course available to food handlers. This interactive program covers basic food safety principles as outlined in the Food Safety Standards.
The Environmental Health Department is also happy to provide educational information and advice to businesses regarding food safety and hygiene.
Immunisations
There are a number of infectious diseases which can be prevented by immunisation. Many vaccines are provided free-of-charge and are available from your General Practitioner or Immunisation clinics.
National Immunisation Program Schedule
Why should I have my child immunised?
- Immunisation is the only effective way of giving protection against the disease.
- After immunisation, your child is far less likely to catch the disease if there are outbreaks in the community.
- If enough people in the community are immunised, the infection can no longer be spread from person to person and the disease dies out altogether. This is how smallpox was eliminated from the world, and how polio has been eliminated from many countries.
- Despite excellent hospital care, significant illness and death still occur from diseases which can be prevented by immunisation.
The recommended and fully funded vaccine plan is available on the Tasmanian Department of Health website: National Immunisation Program Schedule.
School Immunisation Program
Council also conducts a school immunisation program for all schools within the Municipality. Consent forms are delivered to each school for distribution to those students that are eligible to participate in the program. An information sheet in relation to each vaccine will be provided with each consent form. Parents/Guardians are strongly recommended to read the supporting information before consenting to their child being immunised.
Immunisation Records
Please fill out the following form if you would like to access your or your child's immunisation record and return it to the council: