Food Examiner

Regulators
  • Food Standards Scotland
  • Scottish Ministers
Nations
  • Scotland
Sectors
  • Science

Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

Regulatory authority
Food Standards Scotland
Address

4th Floor, Pilgrim House
Aberdeen
AB11 5RL

Email address
enquiries@fss.scot
Phone number
+44 (0)1224 285 100

Oversight body

Regulatory authority
Scottish Ministers
Address

Scottish Government, St. Andrew's House, Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Email address
ceu@gov.scot
Phone number
+44 (0)3002 444 000

Regulation

Regulation summary

Under the Food Safety Act (1990), Food Examiners in Scotland are regulated by Scottish Ministers. Food Examiners are responsible for examining food as part of official controls to ensure businesses are complying with food safety law in Scotland.

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.


Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

To become a qualified Food Examiner, you must have qualified as a food assessor before 05 April 2013, when the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 came into effect. If you qualified as a food assessor after 05 April 2013, you must possess one of the qualifications listed below:
• a first-class degree (with honours) in microbiology
• a degree of Master of Science, provided that
• a Mastership in Chemical Analysis (MChemA) awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
• a fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) gained after passing the Higher Specialist Diploma examination in medical microbiology set by the IBMS.
• fellowship or membership of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST)
• candidates must also have carried out examination of food for at least 3 years in total in an appropriate laboratory as listed Schedule 2 of Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Scotland) Regulations 2013. Time spent in a laboratory as an undergraduate does not count towards this requirement.

If you do not meet the above criteria, then you will not be able to practise as a food examiner in the UK. This is also the case for individuals with qualifications from overseas.

There are four qualification routes to practise as Food Examiner in Scotland, namely:
• Route A: Degree in microbiology or Master of Science
• Route B: Royal Society of Chemistry, Mastership of Chemical Analysis
• Route C: Institute of Biological Science, Fellowship and Higher Specialist Diploma
• Route D: Institute of Food Science and Technology, Membership and Fellowship (IFST)

For more information visit the link below.

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 FSS regulates Food Examiner in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. The FSA and DHSC Secretary of State regulates Food Analysts for Wales, the FSA and Department of Health (Northern Ireland) regulates Food Analysts in Northern Ireland.

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.


Registration

Registration requirements

Once the required qualifications have been achieved, you must be nominated 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).


Legislation

Title of relevant act or charter

Food Safety Act 1990

Title of relevant act or charter

The Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Scotland) Regulations 2013

Licence Finder

You may need licences and permits to carry out certain activities in the UK. These are called authorisations. Use the licence finder to find what you need.