UK issues a notice for recognised food hygiene qualifications for ship's cooks and galley staff under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has released the marine information notice MIN 689 (M) Amendment 1 on food and catering recognised qualifications in food hygiene or food safety in catering for ship’s cooks and others processing food in the galley under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

The notice was issued on 21 November 2023.

Summary

Part 8 of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers, etc.) Regulations 2014, known as the "Minimum Requirements Regulations," introduces a mandate for ship's cooks, catering staff, and individuals handling food in the galley to possess suitable qualifications in food hygiene or food safety in catering.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) does not endorse specific courses but acknowledges those accredited by relevant awarding bodies.

This notice provides a list of qualifications and awarding bodies meeting the criteria outlined in Annex 1 of MSN 1846 (M) Amendment 1, with Level 2 being the minimum acceptable level.

Ship's cooks seeking certification can refer to the websites of awarding bodies for accepted courses.

Tables 1, 2, and 3 detail current Ofqual courses, while Table 4 lists discontinued courses still accepted by the MCA within their expiry dates.

For CIEH and REHIS, the latest information is available on the awarding bodies' websites.

Stewards, temporary support staff, or others handling food in the galley, while subject to the same learning outcomes, are not required to hold specific qualifications, assuming they work under qualified supervision.

1. Introduction

Under the Minimum Requirements Regulations, ship's cooks must be qualified in food hygiene or safety, and all galley staff must receive proper training in these areas.

2. Training Requirements for Catering Staff and Others Processing Food in the Galley (Regulation 40)

Shipowners must ensure proper training or instruction in food and personal hygiene for ship's cooks and other galley personnel, following the criteria in Annex 1 of MSN 1846 (M) Amendment 1. Ship's cooks must hold a qualification attesting to these learning outcomes and complete additional requirements in Annex 2.

3. Online Delivery of Courses

Certificates from online courses listed in MIN 689 are accepted, subject to suitable control measures. The MCA emphasizes the need for interaction and oversight in online courses and provides guidelines for students/applicants.

4. Accepted Food Hygiene/Food Safety Qualifications

The qualifications accepted by the MCA are listed on awarding body websites, with Ofqual courses presented in Tables 1–3. Level 2 is the minimum acceptable level for ship's cooks and galley staff.

4.2 Ofqual Register

• To find the latest list of accepted courses on the Ofqual register, visit their website and download the full register.
• Filter criteria: Level 2, 3 & 4; hospitality in catering; food safety in catering qualifications; available to learners.

This document contains three tables specifying Ofqual courses accepted by the MCA: Table 1 for Level 2 courses, Table 2 for Level 3 courses, and Table 3 for Level 4 courses.

5. Other Registers Accepted by MCA

5.1 The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)

• CIEH Level Foundation Certificate in Food Safety Level 2
• Intermediate Certificate in Food Safety Level 3

5.1.1 CIEH regulates, approves, accredits, and monitors its own food safety/hygiene courses at Levels 2 and 3 under the CIEH Charter. Find more information on their website: CIEH Training Programmes.

5.1.2 The table below lists discontinued CIEH courses along with their certification end dates. MCA continues to accept certificates issued before the end date.

5.2 Royal Environmental Institute of Scotland

5.2.1 The following courses are accepted. For the most up-to-date list, visit their website: REHIS Community Training

• Elementary Food Hygiene | Equivalent to Level 2
• Intermediate Food Hygiene | Equivalent to Level 3
• Diploma in Advanced Food Hygiene | Equivalent to Level 4

6. Discontinued Courses

6.1 Table 4, featured in this document, is a list of courses/qualifications that are no longer available. The MCA previously recognized and accepted these certificates, provided they fulfill the learning outcomes and assessment criteria in Annex 1 of MSN 1846 (M). Applicants holding one of the certificates listed below can use it when applying for their ship's cook certificate of competency, provided it is issued before the certificate end date.

All regulations can be found at legislation.gov.uk

For more information, please see the documents below (available only to subscribers):

Maritime Labour Convention, 2006: Food and Catering Recognised Qualifications in Food Hygiene or Food Safety in Catering for Ship’s Cooks and Others Processing Food in the Galley

MSN 1846 (M) Amendment 1, Annex 1, Annex 2