Food Hygiene Law
From 1 January 2006, new EU food hygiene legislation has applied throughout the UK.
Who has to comply with new EU regulations?
All food businesses, whether private or public sector and whether profit or non-profit making that carry out any stage of production, processing and distribution of food.
What does the law say?
Food business operators have a legal responsibility to ensure that staff are trained to carry out their duties safely. In order to comply with the law you need be able to demonstrate that all food handlers have an appropriate level of knowledge of food hygiene. EC Regulation 852 states that all food handlers must be instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activity.
You must be able to prove that you produce food safely. You can do this by demonstrating that you produce food in accordance with HACCP principles. You must also register your premises with your local environmental health department.
How do you become compliant with the law?
Training food handlers using a certified e-learning course is the fastest, easiest and most effective way to achieve compliance with the law. When you are audited by an Environmental Health Officer you must be able to prove that your staff have received appropriate food hygiene training. On completion of our e-learning course you will receive a full certificate through the post; this training record can be used as proof of compliance with the law.
High Speed Training Ltd offers three variations of the food hygiene courses (Catering / Retail / Manufacturing) in line with recommendations from UK National Occupation Standards, which suggest that staff should be trained with a course relevant to the sector that they work in.
Will my local authority accept an online course?
Yes - Our courses have been audited and approved by Environmental Health Officers. Online courses are an established way of meeting the legal requirement to have sufficient training. Environmental Health Officers will often ask that you take a level 2 / basic / foundation food hygiene course. Upon completion of our level 2 course you will be sent a high quality Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate within one working day. We are always happy to speak to your Environmental Health Officer to verify the syllabus covered or to validate a certificate if required.
Where can you find more detailed information?
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