{"id":"food-regulations-2014","name":"FOOD REGULATIONS 2014","slug":"food-regulations-2014","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":176845,"registerId":"nt-food-regulations-2014-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"FOOD REGULATIONS 2014","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nFOOD REGULATIONS 2014\nAs in force at 1 August 2020\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\nPart 1A Risk classification of food business\n3A Northern Territory Food Business Risk Classification...................... 1\n3B Risk classification ............................................................................ 2\nPart 2 Fees\n4 Registration fee ............................................................................... 2\n4A Renewal fee..................................................................................... 2\n4B Fee for variation of conditions of registration of food business ........ 2\nPart 2A Audits\nDivision 1 Food safety auditors\n4C Approval of food safety auditors ...................................................... 2\n4D Approval of authorised officers as food safety auditors ................... 3\n4E Term of approval ............................................................................. 4\n4F Variation of conditions, suspension or cancellation of approval....... 4\n4G Suspension or cancellation on request by food safety auditor ......... 5\n4H Identity card ..................................................................................... 6\n4J Functions of food safety auditors ..................................................... 6\n4K Direct or indirect interest .................................................................. 6\nDivision 2 Auditing and reporting requirements\n4L Frequency of auditing ...................................................................... 7\n4M Reporting requirements ................................................................... 7\nPart 3 Infringement notice offences\n5 Infringement notice offence and prescribed amount payable .......... 8\n6 When infringement notice may be given .......................................... 8\n7 Contents of infringement notice ....................................................... 8\n9 Withdrawal of infringement notice.................................................. 10\n\nFood Regulations 2014 ii\n10 Application of Part ......................................................................... 10\nSchedule 1 Registration fee\nSchedule 1A Renewal fee\nSchedule 1B Fee for variation of conditions of\nregistration\nSchedule 2 Infringement notice offences and\nprescribed amounts\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 1 August 2020\n____________________\nFOOD REGULATIONS 2014\nRegulations under the Food Act 2004\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Citation\nThese Regulations may be cited as the Food Regulations 2014.\n2 Commencement\nThese Regulations commence on 1 January 2015.\n3 Definitions\nIn these Regulations:\nCHO, means the Chief Health Officer.\ninfringement notice, see regulation 6.\ninfringement notice offence, see regulation 5(1).\nprescribed amount, see regulation 5(2).\nrisk classification, of a food business, means the classification\ndetermined under regulation 3B.\nPart 1A Risk classification of food business\n3A Northern Territory Food Business Risk Classification\n(1) For section 135(3)(a) of the Act, the Northern Territory Food\nBusiness Risk Classification is a tool used to classify food\nbusinesses on the basis of food safety risks.\n(2) For section 135(3)(b) of the Act, the Northern Territory Food\nBusiness Risk Classification, as in force from time to time, applies\non and from the commencement of this Regulation.\n\nPart 2A Audits\nDivision 1 Food safety auditors\nFood Regulations 2014 2\n(3) For section 135(3)(c) of the Act, the Northern Territory Food\nBusiness Risk Classification:\n(a) must be available for inspection at the Agency's office during\nnormal business hours; and\n(b) must be published on the Agency's website.\n3B Risk classification\nThe Agency may classify a food business in accordance with the\nNorthern Territory Food Business Risk Classification.\nPart 2 Fees\n4 Registration fee\nFor section 71(2)(c) of the Act, the prescribed fee for a food\nbusiness with a risk classification specified in Schedule 1, is as\nspecified in Schedule 1 for each premises where the operation of\nthe food business will be carried on.\n4A Renewal fee\nFor section 75(2)(b) of the Act, the prescribed fee for a food\nbusiness with a risk classification specified in Schedule 1A, is as\nspecified in Schedule 1A for each premises where the operation of\nthe food business will be carried on.\n4B Fee for variation of conditions of registration of food business\nFor section 78(5)(b) of the Act, the prescribed fee for a food\nbusiness with a risk classification specified in Schedule 1B, is as\nspecified in Schedule 1B.\nPart 2A Audits\nDivision 1 Food safety auditors\n4C Approval of food safety auditors\n(1) The CHO may approve a person to be a food safety auditor if the\nCHO is satisfied the person is competent to carry out the functions\nof an auditor having regard to the person's appropriate skills and\nknowledge.\n\nPart 2A Audits\nDivision 1 Food safety auditors\nFood Regulations 2014 3\n(2) A person may apply, in the approved form, to the CHO for an\napproval under subregulation (1).\n(3) The CHO may require the applicant to provide additional\ninformation relevant to the application.\n(4) The CHO may, after considering an application:\n(a) approve the application, with or without conditions; or\n(b) refuse to approve the application.\n(5) If the CHO approves an application, the CHO must issue the\napplicant with a written notice of approval that sets out any\nconditions to which the approval is subject.\n(6) If the CHO refuses to approve an application, the CHO must issue\nthe applicant with a written notice of refusal that sets out the\nreasons for the refusal.\n(7) The applicant may, if dissatisfied with the CHO's decision, apply to\nthe Local Court to review the merits of the decision.\n(8) The application must be made within 5 business days after notice of\nthe CHO's decision was received by the applicant.\n(9) In determining the review, the Court must, by written notice to the\napplicant:\n(a) confirm the decision; or\n(b) vary the decision; or\n(c) revoke the decision; or\n(d) substitute a decision for that decision.\n(10) The Court must state the reasons for its determination in the notice.\n4D Approval of authorised officers as food safety auditors\n(1) The CHO may approve an authorised officer to be a food safety\nauditor if the CHO is satisfied the authorised officer has the\nappropriate skills and knowledge.\n(2) The CHO may approve an authorised officer to be a food safety\nauditor under subregulation (1) subject to any conditions the CHO\nconsiders appropriate.\n\nPart 2A Audits\nDivision 1 Food safety auditors\nFood Regulations 2014 4\n(3) An authorised officer may, in writing to the CHO, request approval\nto be a food safety auditor.\n(4) An authorised officer is not required to make an application under\nregulation 4C.\n4E Term of approval\n(1) An approval granted under regulation 4C remains in force until the\nearlier of the following:\n(a) the expiry of the period, not exceeding 3 years, specified in\nthe approval;\n(b) the date of which the approval is suspended;\n(c) the date of which the approval is cancelled.\n(2) An auditor approved under regulation 4C may apply for renewal of\nan approval.\n(3) An approval granted under regulation 4D remains in force while the\nauthorised officer is appointed as an authorised officer.\n4F Variation of conditions, suspension or cancellation of approval\n(1) The CHO may, on the CHO's own motion, vary the conditions of, or\nsuspend or cancel, an approval of a food safety auditor.\n(2) The CHO may suspend or cancel a food safety auditor's approval\non one or more of the following grounds:\n(a) the auditor has wilfully or negligently contravened the Act or\nthese Regulations;\n(b) the auditor has contravened a condition of the approval;\n(c) the auditor has not competently carried out the functions of an\nauditor under these Regulations;\n(d) the auditor has a direct or indirect interest in any food\nbusiness that, in the opinion of the CHO, could affect the\nperformance of the auditor's functions under these\nRegulations;\n(e) the auditor has failed to give notice to the CHO of any direct or\nindirect interest in any food business under regulation 4K(1);\n(f) for any other reason the CHO considers appropriate.\n\nPart 2A Audits\nDivision 1 Food safety auditors\nFood Regulations 2014 5\n(3) The CHO may not vary the conditions of, or suspend or cancel, the\napproval of a food safety auditor unless the CHO has:\n(a) given the auditor:\n(i) written notice of the intention to vary, suspend or cancel\nthe approval; and\n(ii) an opportunity to make submissions in relation to the\nintended variation, suspension and cancellation; and\n(b) considered any submissions made by the auditor.\n(4) A variation of the conditions of, or the suspension or cancellation of,\nthe approval of an auditor under subregulation (1):\n(a) must be by written notice; and\n(b) must be given to the person to whom the approval relates; and\n(c) takes effect on the day on which the notice is given or on a\nlater day specified in the notice.\n(5) The auditor may, if dissatisfied with the CHO's decision to vary,\nsuspend or cancel the auditor's approval, apply to the Local Court\nto review the merits of the decision.\n(6) The application must be made within 5 business days after notice of\nthe CHO's decision to vary, suspend or cancel the approval was\nreceived by the auditor.\n(7) In determining the review, the Court must, by written notice to the\napplicant:\n(a) confirm the decision; or\n(b) vary the decision; or\n(c) revoke the decision; or\n(d) substitute a decision for that decision.\n(8) The Court must state the reasons for its determination in the notice.\n4G Suspension or cancellation on request by food safety auditor\n(1) The CHO must, if requested to do so by a food safety auditor,\nsuspend or cancel the food safety auditor's approval as a food\nsafety auditor.\n\nPart 2A Audits\nDivision 1 Food safety auditors\nFood Regulations 2014 6\n(2) Regulation 4F does not apply to the suspension or cancellation of\nan approval at the request of the auditor.\n4H Identity card\n(1) The CHO must give a food safety auditor an identity card stating\nthe person's name and that the person is a food safety auditor.\n(2) The identity card must:\n(a) state that it is issued under these Regulations; and\n(b) show a recent photograph of the food safety auditor; and\n(c) state the date on which it expires; and\n(d) specify any conditions to which the person's approval as a\nfood safety auditor is subject; and\n(e) be signed by:\n(i) the food safety auditor; and\n(ii) the CHO.\n(3) A person who ceases to be a food safety auditor must return the\nperson's identity card to the CHO as soon as reasonably\npracticable after the cessation.\n4J Functions of food safety auditors\nA food safety auditor has the following functions:\n(a) to carry out audits of food safety programs prepared in relation\nto food businesses under the Food Standards Code;\n(b) to carry out any necessary post-audit action, including to carry\nout further audits to check that any deficiencies in a food\nsafety program have been remedied;\n(c) to carry out assessments of food businesses to ascertain their\ncompliance with requirements of the Food Safety Standards;\n(d) to report in accordance with regulation 4M.\n4K Direct or indirect interest\n(1) A food safety auditor must notify the CHO of any direct or indirect\ninterest the auditor has in any food business as soon as possible\nafter becoming aware of the interest.\n\nPart 2A Audits\nDivision 2 Auditing and reporting requirements\nFood Regulations 2014 7\n(2) A food safety auditor must not carry out the functions of an auditor\nin relation to a food business in which the auditor has a direct or\nindirect interest.\n(3) Payment to an auditor for carrying out the functions of an auditor\ndoes not constitute a direct or indirect interest in a food business for\nthis regulation.\nDivision 2 Auditing and reporting requirements\n4L Frequency of auditing\nThe CHO must:\n(a) determine the audit frequency of any food safety programs\nrequired by the Food Standards Code to be prepared in\nrelation to a food business; and\n(b) give written notice to the proprietor of the food business of:\n(i) the audit frequency; and\n(ii) the date by which the food business must have\nimplemented any such food safety programs.\n4M Reporting requirements\n(1) A food safety auditor must report in writing to the CHO the results of\nany audit carried out by the auditor.\n(2) A report under subregulation (1) must:\n(a) be in the approved form; and\n(b) be given to the CHO within 21 days after the completion of the\naudit; and\n(c) take account of any action taken before the submission of the\nreport to remedy any deficiency identified by the auditor.\n(3) The report must include a statement as to whether, in the opinion of\nthe auditor, the food business is being conducted in compliance\nwith the requirements of the Food Standards Code relating to food\nsafety programs.\n\nPart 3 Infringement notice offences\nFood Regulations 2014 8\n(4) An auditor must immediately report to the CHO any contravention\nof the Act, these Regulations, or the Food Safety Standards that\ncomes to the auditor's attention in the course of carrying out an\naudit:\n(a) that is an imminent and serious risk to the safety of food\nintended for sale; or\n(b) that will cause significant unsuitability of food intended for\nsale.\n(5) A report under subregulation (4) must be completed by the auditor\nas soon as possible and not later than 24 hours after the\ncontravention comes to the auditor's attention.\n(6) A copy of a report provided to the CHO under this regulation must\nbe given to the proprietor of the food business concerned.\nPart 3 Infringement notice offences\n5 Infringement notice offence and prescribed amount payable\n(1) An infringement notice offence is an offence against a provision\nspecified in Schedule 2.\n(2) The prescribed amount for an infringement notice offence is the\namount equal to the monetary value of the number of penalty units\nspecified for the offence in Schedule 2.\n6 When infringement notice may be given\nIf an authorised officer reasonably believes a person has committed\nan infringement notice offence, the authorised officer may give a\nnotice (an infringement notice) to the person.\n7 Contents of infringement notice\n(1) The infringement notice must specify the following:\n(a) the name and address of the person, if known;\n(b) the date the infringement notice is given to the person;\n(c) the date, time and place of the infringement notice offence;\n(d) a description of the offence;\n(e) the prescribed amount payable for the offence;\n\nPart 3 Infringement notice offences\nFood Regulations 2014 9\n(f) the enforcement agency, as defined in the Fines and Penalties\n(Recovery) Act 2001, to whom or to which the prescribed\namount is payable.\n(2) The infringement notice must include a statement to the effect of\nthe following:\n(a) the person may expiate the infringement notice offence and\navoid any further action in relation to the offence by paying the\nprescribed amount to the specified enforcement agency within\n28 days after the notice is given;\n(b) the person may elect under section 21 of the Fines and\nPenalties (Recovery) Act 2001 to have the matter dealt with by\na court instead of under that Act by completing a statement of\nelection and giving it to the specified enforcement agency;\n(c) if the person does nothing in response to the notice,\nenforcement action may be taken under the Fines and\nPenalties (Recovery) Act 2001, including (but not limited to)\naction for the following:\n(i) suspending the person's licence to drive;\n(ii) seizing personal property of the person;\n(iii) deducting an amount from the person's wages or salary;\n(iv) registering a statutory charge on land owned by the\nperson;\n(v) making a community work order for the person and\nimprisonment of the person if the person breaches the\norder.\n(3) Also, the infringement notice must include an appropriate form for\nmaking the statement of election mentioned in subregulation (2)(b).\n8 Electronic payment and payment by cheque\n(1) If the person uses electronic means to pay the prescribed amount,\npayment is not effected until the amount is credited to the\nenforcement agency's bank account.\n(2) If the person tenders a cheque in payment of the prescribed\namount, payment is not effected unless the cheque is cleared on\nfirst presentation.\n\nPart 3 Infringement notice offences\nFood Regulations 2014 10\n9 Withdrawal of infringement notice\n(1) The CHO may withdraw the infringement notice by written notice\ngiven to the person.\n(2) The notice must be given:\n(a) within 28 days after the infringement notice is given to the\nperson; and\n(b) before payment of the prescribed amount.\n10 Application of Part\n(1) This Part does not prejudice or affect the start or continuation of\nproceedings for an infringement notice offence for which an\ninfringement notice has been given unless the offence is expiated.\n(2) Also, this Part does not:\n(a) require an infringement notice to be given; or\n(b) affect the liability of a person to be prosecuted in a court for an\noffence for which an infringement notice has not been\ngiven; or\n(c) prevent more than one infringement notice for the same\noffence being given to a person.\n(3) If more than one infringement notice for the same offence has been\ngiven to a person, the person may expiate the offence by paying\nthe prescribed amount in accordance with any of the notices.\n\nSchedule 1 Registration fee\nFood Regulations 2014 11\nSchedule 1 Registration fee\nregulation 4\nRisk classification Fee per premises (revenue units)\nPriority 1 (P1) 180\nPriority 2 (P2) 90\nPriority 3 (P3) 45\nPriority 4 (P4) 0\n\nSchedule 1A Renewal fee\nFood Regulations 2014 12\nSchedule 1A Renewal fee\nregulation 4A\nRisk classification Fee per premises (revenue units)\nPriority 1 (P1) 145\nPriority 2 (P2) 70\nPriority 3 (P3) 35\nPriority 4 (P4) 0\n\nSchedule 1B Fee for variation of conditions of registration\nFood Regulations 2014 13\nSchedule 1B Fee for variation of conditions of registration\nregulation 4B\nRisk classification Fee (revenue units)\nPriority 1 (P1) 90\nPriority 2 (P2) 45\nPriority 3 (P3) 22\nPriority 4 (P4) 0\n\nSchedule 2 Infringement notice offences and prescribed amounts\nFood Regulations 2014 14\nSchedule 2 Infringement notice offences and prescribed\namounts\nregulation 5\nProvision Prescribed amount (penalty units)\nfor individual for body corporate\nFood Act 2004\nsection 15(1) and (2) 5 25\nsection 16(1) and (2) 4 20\nsection 17(1), (2) and (3) 3 15\nsection 18(1) 3 15\nsection 19(1), (2) and (3) 3 15\nsection 20(1), (2), (3) and (4) 3 15\nsection 32(4) 3 15\nsection 46 5 25\nsection 52(1) 2 10\nsection 53 2 10\nsection 70 2 10\nsection 71(1) 1 5\nsection 73(3) 2 10\nsection 75(5) 2 10\nsection 79(7) 2 10\nsection 82 1 5\nsection 83(1) 2 10\nsection 102 3 15\nsection 106 1 5\nsection 107 3 15\n\nENDNOTES\nFood Regulations 2014 15\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nFood Regulations (SL No. 46, 2014)\nNotified 24 December 2014\nCommenced 1 January 2015 (r 2)\nFood Amendment Regulations 2019 (SL No. 18, 2019)\nNotified 31 July 2019\nCommenced r 6: 1 August 2020 (r 2(2)); rem: 1 August 2019 (r 2(1))\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: rr 1 and 7 and Sch 2.\nr 3 amd No. 18, 2019, r 4\npt 1A hdg ins No 18, 2019, r 5\nrr 3A – 3B ins No 18, 2019, r 5\npt 2 hdg sub No 18, 2019, r 5\nr 4 sub No. 18, 2019, r 5\nrr 4A – 4B ins No. 18, 2019, r 5\npt 2A hdg ins No. 18, 2019, r 6\npt 2A\ndiv 1 hdg ins No. 18, 2019 r 6\nrr 4C – 4K ins No. 18, 2019 r 6\npt 2A\ndiv 2 hdg ins No. 18, 2019 r 6\nrr 4L – 4M ins No. 18, 2019 r 6\nr 8 sub No. 18, 2019, r 7\nr 9 amd No. 18, 2019, r 8\nsch 1 sub No. 18, 2019, r 9\nsch 1A – 1B ins No. 18, 2019, r 9","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on available information, this appears to be a reprint (REPF020R1) of existing Food Regulations rather than a substantive expansion or contraction of scope. The regulations remain focused on food safety standards and business compliance within the ACT, consistent with the original purpose of the Food Act framework. No evidence of scope drift is apparent from the metadata provided."},"complexity_factors":["Regulations sit beneath a parent Act, so you need to read both documents together to understand the full legal picture","ACT food law intersects with national food standards (Food Standards Australia New Zealand framework), creating a layered regulatory system","The 12-month gap between making and commencement suggests transitional provisions or significant compliance changes that businesses needed time to absorb","Limited metadata provided — the actual operative content of the regulations is not included, making full analysis impossible from this document alone","Regulatory instruments of this type are frequently amended, so currency of any specific provision must always be checked"],"plain_english_summary":"The Food Regulations 2014 (ACT) are detailed rules under the ACT Food Act that set how food must be handled, prepared, sold and labelled in the territory. They translate national food safety standards into day‑to‑day requirements—licensing, hygiene and enforcement—to keep food safe and compliant.\n\nThey directly affect all food businesses operating in the ACT, protect consumers, and define the powers of health inspectors and regulators."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 2014 regulations were relatively simple, covering mainly fees and infringement notices. The 2019 amendments (in force August 2020) significantly expanded the scope by adding Part 1A (risk classification) and Part 2A (comprehensive food safety auditor scheme). The legislation evolved from a basic fee-setting and penalty mechanism into a detailed regulatory framework for risk-based regulation and professional auditing standards."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate cross-referencing to the parent Food Act 2004 (sections 71, 75, 78, 135) and the Food Standards Code, requiring readers to consult external documents","Nested procedural requirements for auditor approvals including application, review by Local Court, conditions, variations, suspensions, and cancellations (regulations 4C-4G)","Multiple schedules (5 total) containing fee tables and penalty units that must be read alongside the main text","Defined terms section with 5 specific definitions, plus reliance on undefined external terms like 'revenue units' and 'penalty units' from other legislation","Conditional logic in infringement notice provisions regarding payment methods, withdrawal timeframes, and election to go to court","Dual pathways for auditor approval (general applicants vs authorised officers) with different rules for each"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the rules for how food businesses operate in the Northern Territory. They cover four main areas:\n\n**1. Risk-based classification of food businesses**\n- Food businesses are sorted into four risk categories (Priority 1 to 4) based on how dangerous their food handling activities are. A high-risk business like a restaurant that serves raw seafood would be Priority 1; a low-risk business like a simple food packaging operation might be Priority 4.\n- This classification determines how much scrutiny and how often the business gets checked.\n\n**2. Fees for registration**\n- Businesses must pay fees to register and renew their registration each year.\n- The amount depends on their risk classification: Priority 1 pays the most ($180 revenue units to register, $145 to renew), while Priority 4 pays nothing.\n- There are also fees if a business wants to change the conditions of its registration.\n\n**3. Food safety auditors**\n- The regulations create a system for approving people to audit food businesses.\n- Auditors check that businesses are following food safety rules and must report any serious risks immediately (within 24 hours).\n- Auditors must be approved by the Chief Health Officer, carry ID cards, and cannot audit businesses where they have a financial interest.\n- Approvals last up to 3 years and can be suspended or cancelled if the auditor performs poorly or breaks rules.\n\n**4. Infringement notices (on-the-spot fines)**\n- Authorised officers can issue fines for specific offences under the Food Act 2004 without going to court.\n- Fines range from 1 to 5 penalty units for individuals, and 5 to 25 penalty units for companies.\n- People can pay the fine to avoid court, or choose to have the matter heard in court instead.\n- The Chief Health Officer can withdraw an infringement notice within 28 days if appropriate.\n\n**Why it matters:** These regulations protect public health by ensuring food businesses are properly supervised based on their risk level, creating a qualified workforce of food safety auditors, and providing a quick enforcement mechanism for minor food safety breaches."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. 2019 amendments expanded the Regulations to add a formal Northern Territory Food Business Risk Classification (regs 3A–3B), an auditor approval and audit framework (regs 4C–4M) and new fee schedules for renewal and variation (Schedules 1A, 1B). See Endnotes for 'Food Amendment Regulations 2019 (SL No. 18, 2019)' and the listed insertions/substitutions (rr 3A–3B, 4A–4B, 4C–4M, Sch 1A–1B)."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to external instruments and standards increase practical complexity (Food Act 2004, Food Standards Code) — see regs 3A, 4J and Schedule 2 (which lists Food Act sections).","Discretion concentrated in the Chief Health Officer (CHO): power to approve auditors, impose conditions, vary/suspend/cancel approvals and determine audit frequency (regs 4C, 4D, 4F, 4L).","Layered administrative processes: application, notice, opportunity to make submissions and right to Local Court merits review with tight time limits (regs 4C(2)-(9), 4F(3)-(7)).","Multiple regulated actors and roles: food business proprietors (fees, compliance), approved auditors (duties, identity card, conflict rules), authorised officers (can be approved auditors) — see regs 4C–4K, 4L–4M.","Differentiated fee structure tied to risk classification across registration, renewal and variation of conditions (reg 4, 4A, 4B; Schedules 1, 1A, 1B) — creates administrative and accounting burden for proprietors.","Auditor obligations include strict reporting timelines (audit reports within 21 days, immediate report for imminent serious risks within 24 hours) and post‑audit follow-up (reg 4M(2)(b), 4M(4)-(5)).","Infringement notice regime complexity: specified offences and prescribed amounts (reg 5, Schedule 2), procedural content and payment mechanics (regs 6–9), and interaction with the Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Act (reg 7(2)(b)-(c)).","Conflict-of-interest and eligibility rules for auditors: notification duty and prohibition on auditing businesses with direct/indirect interests, with a specific carve‑out for payment (reg 4K(1)-(3)).","Operational publication and access requirement for the risk-classification tool (must be published and available for inspection) — dependency on an external, living classification tool (reg 3A(2)-(3)).","Amendment history and insertion of new Parts/Divisions (see Endnotes) mean users must track changes to understand current scope (Endnotes; rr 3A–3B, 4A–4B, 4C–4M inserted)."],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations set how food businesses in the Northern Territory are classified by food‑safety risk, the registration/renewal/variation fees tied to that risk, and the audit framework for food safety auditors (approval, identity, duties, reporting and audit frequency). They also create an infringement‑notice scheme with specified penalty amounts. The rules affect food business proprietors (who pay fees and face audits and penalties), approved auditors, authorised officers and the Chief Health Officer (who holds approval and enforcement powers)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/food-regulations-2014","history":"/api/acts/food-regulations-2014/history","analysis":"/api/acts/food-regulations-2014/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/food-regulations-2014/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/food-regulations-2014/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/food-regulations-2014/documents"}}