Requirements for Food Hygiene Officers

What is a Food Hygiene Officer (FHO)?

FHOs are supervisory personnel who oversee and implement effective food hygiene measures for food establishments to ensure food is prepared in a safe and hygienic manner.

FHOs assist the licensee in establishing, monitoring, and maintaining proper food safety systems. They conduct regular checks and educate food handlers, reminding them to adhere to good food safety practices and personal hygiene during food preparation.

Advanced Food Hygiene Officers (Advanced FHOs)

Advanced FHOs are supervisory personnel who establish and oversee the food safety standards of their food establishment by developing, implementing, and managing Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS).

Additionally, Advanced FHOs conduct internal audits of the FSMS and address any potential non-compliance with SFA regulations.

For more details on establishments that require an Advanced FHO, see Understanding the Safety Assurance for Food Establishment (SAFE) Framework.

Who qualifies to be an FHO for my business?

1. The FHO must be supervisory personnel, such as chief chefs, sous chefs, restaurant managers, operations managers, or supervisors.
   
   
2. FHOs are required to attend and pass the WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 3, a one-time certification, to register as certified FHOs.
   
   
3. FHOs are required to attend retraining in WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 1 or 2, within 5 years from the date of passing WSQ FSC Level 3, and subsequently every 10 years if they continue to handle food.
   
   
4. Advanced FHOs are required to attain the WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 4 certification.

What is the role or duties of the FHO?

FHOs help owners or licensees to oversee and enhance the standard of hygiene and sanitation at their premises. Between SFA inspections, they act as food safety checkers, rectifying irregularities. 

The duties of FHOs include:

• implementing systems and conducting checks to ensure food handlers practise good food and personal hygiene during food preparation
  
  
• educating and reminding food handlers to practise good hygiene
  
  
• identifying food safety lapses and taking prompt corrective action

FHOs can adapt this sample checklist to suit the specific requirements of their establishments and use the checklist to conduct food safety checks between SFA inspections.

What are the benefits of having FHOs?

Foodborne incidents impact both consumers and the licensees of food establishments. Such incidents may result in suspension, downgrading, and irreversible reputational damage.

By monitoring and ensuring food safety standards, FHOs help licensees reduce the risk of foodborne incidents which, in turn, prevent financial and reputational losses.

Additionally, by enforcing food safety requirements and guidelines within food establishments, FHOs help licensees to maintain an excellent food safety track record.

How do licensees register their FHOs with SFA?

You can follow the steps below to register your FHOs with SFA. You should register your FHOs before applying/renewing your licence, and whenever you appoint a new FHO.

For more information
You can contact us via the SFA Online Feedback Form.