Authorised food analysts

Section 30 of the Act provides that the Secretary of the Department of Health may authorise appropriately qualified persons to carry out analyses for the purposes of the Food Act 1984 (the Act). The secretary must maintain a list of authorised analysts, which is publicly available. The list of authorised analysts in Victoria is provided below.

The roles and responsibilities of authorised analysts are set out under section 31 of the Act. The primary responsibility is to test food samples taken in accordance with the Act by local council environmental health officers.

Analysts must be suitably qualified but must also have the ability to determine the appropriate analyses to be conducted on any food submitted, and to interpret and report the results in terms of compliance with Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) or the Act. This requires a sound knowledge of the requirements set out in the Code, and the requirements and offences set out in the Act. Information about becoming an authorised analyst is provided in the Guide for potential food analysts below.

Authorised analysts play an important role in monitoring the safety, composition and truth in labelling of foods. Analyses are conducted to determine compliance with the Act and the Code (information about the Code is provided separately on this site).

Tests may include an assessment of:

• food handling practices
• microbiological safety
• chemical residue levels
• compliance with the mandatory declaration of allergens
• composition, including the accuracy of label statements or claims (for example, nutrition information or ingredient lists)
• a consumer complaint that a food is unsafe or contaminated

Applying to be authorised as an analyst

For information about how to apply for authorisation to be a food analyst, please see the document