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Food Examiner

Regulators
  • Food Standards Agency
  • Welsh Ministers
Nations
  • Wales
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
Phone number
+44 (0)330 332 7149

Additional regulator

Regulatory authority
Welsh Ministers
Address

Welsh Parliament, Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1SN

Email address
contact@senedd.wales
Phone number
+44 (0)3002 006 565

Regulation

Regulation summary

Under the Food Safety Act (1990) section 30 and the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (England) Regulations 2013 , the FSA and DHSC Secretary of State regulates Food Examiners (FEs) for England and Wales.

The Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Wales) 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.

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/wsi/2013/479/contents/made

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.

Professionals from other UK nations

Routes to recognition within the UK

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, the FSA and Department of Health (Northern Ireland) regulates Food Examiners in Northern Ireland, 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 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) (Wales) 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.