Public Analyst

Regulators
  • Food Standards Agency
  • Welsh Ministers
Nations
  • Wales
Sectors
  • Other

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) (Wales) Regulations 2013, the FSA and DHSC Secretary of State regulates Public Analysts for Wales.

The Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Wales) Regulations 2013 requires a Public Analyst 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

Public Analysts will examine food as part of official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law. Public Analysts will also provide advice to sampling officers on:
• sampling policy and the sampling programme
• transport
• quality
• test selection
• interpretation of results
Public Analysts 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 Public Analyst, you must:
(1) Possesses a Mastership in Chemical Analysis awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

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 Public Analysts (PAs) for England, the FSA and Department of Health (Northern Ireland) regulates PAs in Northern Ireland, and Food Standard Scotland regulates the PA 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 an Public Analyst in the UK, you must:
(1) possess a Mastership in Chemical Analysis
(2) have carried out examination of food in a Public Analyst’s laboratory in the UK, or other laboratory concerned with relevant food.

If you do not possess these qualifications, you may not practice as an Public Analyst.


Registration

Registration requirements

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

As a Public Analyst 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.