Food report outlines options for 'scores on doors'

A report considering the options for a 'scores on doors' food safety system for Canberra restaurants and cafes has been released by the ACT Government.

It includes four different models being used overseas to publicly display the results of recent health inspections at food premises.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says regulatory impact statements are not usually released for public comment, but there has been lots of interest in how such a scheme would operate in Canberra.

"They are usually used for cabinet deliberations when we are determining which to go," Ms Gallagher said.

"But I think the level of public interest in food safety and the level of industry interest in what happens next, I think it's a sensible way to go to release it, and then have the conversation with the same figures on the table."

Ms Gallagher says the proposals range from a voluntary scheme to display food safety ratings, through to a mandatory one for the entire industry.

"There's no doubt that schemes like this focus the mind of restaurant owners and indeed improve food safety," she said.

"I think the issue here is ... are our standards high now? And would we see the increases that have been seen overseas when these schemes have been put in place?"

Source: ABC News, 11 June 2012