Food Examiner

Regulators: Food Standards Agency

Department of Health
Nations: Northern Ireland
Sectors: Science

Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

Regulatory authority: Food Standards Agency
Address: Floors 6 and 7
Clive House
70 Petty France
London
SW1H 9EX
Email address: helpline@food.gov.uk
Website: https://www.food.gov.uk
Phone number: +44 (0)330 332 7149

Additional regulator

Regulatory authority: Department of Health
Address: Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
Northern Ireland
BT4 3SQ
Email address: webmaster@health-ni.gov.uk
Website: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/
Phone number: +44 (0)2890 520 500

Regulation

Regulation summary

Under the Food Safety Order (1991) Section 30 and the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 , the FSA and Department of Health (Northern Ireland) regulates Food Examiners in Northern Ireland.

The Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2013 requires a Food Examiner to examine food as part of official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law in Northern Ireland.

Regulation type

Licence

Reserved activities

Food Examiners will examine food as part of official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law. Food Examiners will also provide advice to sampling officers on:
• sampling and aseptic techniques
• sampling policy and the sampling programme
• transport
• quality
• test selection
• interpretation of results
Food Examiners will also support Sampling Officers on the preparation of materials for prosecutions.

More about regulated activities and titles: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/en/nisr/2013/66/contents

Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

To become a qualified Food Examiner, you must:
(1) Possesses one of the following qualifications:
(a) Degree (with honours) in microbiology;
(b) Master of Science, provided that the degree was awarded following an examination, and at least one paper in the degree was in microbiology;
(c) Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences if that Fellowship has been gained after passing the higher specialist diploma examination in medical microbiology set by that Institute;
(d) Mastership in Chemical Analysis awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry;
(e) Fellowship or Membership of the Institute of Food Science and Technology.

(2) Has carried out examination of food over a period or periods amounting in aggregate to at least 3 years in an appropriate laboratory.

More about qualification

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/en/nisr/2013/66/schedule/2

Professionals from other UK nations

Routes to recognition within the UK: The required qualifications are the same in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The FSA and DHSC Secretary of State regulates Food Examiners (FEs) for England and Wales and Food Standard Scotland regulates the Food Examiner profession in Scotland.

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK

None - all professionals must re-qualify

Summary of routes

To become qualified to practice as a Food Examiner in the UK, you must:
(1) possess one of the following:
(a) Degree (with Honours) in Microbiology
(b) Master of Science (awarded following an examination and at least one paper in Microbiology)
(c) Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (awarded after passing the Higher Specialist Diploma examination in Medical Microbiology)
(d) Fellowship or Membership of the Institute of Food Science and Technolgy
(2) have carried out examination of food in an appropriate laboratory as outlined in Schedule 2 of The Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations 2013.

If you do not possess these qualifications, you may not practice as a Food Examiner.

More about recognition for professionals outside the UK

https://www.food.gov.uk/our-work/professions-regulated-by-the-fsa

Registration

Registration requirements

Once the required qualifications have been achieved, you must be appointed by a local authority before you may practice as a Food Examiner. There is no further requirement or license needed to lawfully practise as a Food Examiner.

As a Food Examiner, you will be expected to record and maintain your continuous professional development (CPD).

More about registration