Guidance

MIN 689 (M) Amendment 1 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

Published 21 November 2023

Summary

Part 8 of the merchant shipping (maritime labour convention) (minimum requirements for seafarers etc.) regulations 2014 (the “minimum requirements regulations”) introduce a requirement for all ship’s cooks, catering staff and other persons processing food in the galley to be suitably qualified in food hygiene or food safety in catering.

The MCA does not approve food hygiene or food safety in catering courses but accepts those accredited by the relevant awarding bodies. The qualifications and awarding bodies which are listed in this notice are those that fulfil the learning outcomes and assessment criteria set out in annex 1 of MSN 1846 (M) Amendment 1. Level 2 is the minimum acceptable level for ship’s cooks, catering staff and other persons processing food in the galley.

The courses which the MCA accepts for pre-qualification for issue of a ship’s cook certificate of competency are listed on the websites of the awarding bodies – see section 4 and tables 1, 2 & 3. Tables 1,2 & 3 lists the current accepted Ofqual courses only (provided for ease of reference at the date of publication of this notice) and table 4 lists the discontinued courses but MCA will still accepted these food safety and food hygiene certificates within the certificates expiry date. For CIEH and REHIS, please visit the websites of the awarding bodies for the latest information.

The same learning outcomes (Annex 1 of MSN 1846(M) Amendment 1 apply for stewards, temporary support staff or other persons processing food in the galley, but these personnel are not required to hold the qualifications listed below, as it is expected that they would be working under qualified supervision.

1. Introduction

1.1 Under the minimum requirements regulations all ship’s cooks must be suitably qualified in food hygiene or food safety in catering. All catering staff and other persons processing food in the galley must be properly trained or instructed in food hygiene or food safety.

2. Training requirements for catering staff and other persons processing food in the galley (regulation 40)

2.1 The shipowner must ensure that the ship’s cook and any other person who processes food in the galley of a sea-going United Kingdom vessel is properly trained or instructed in food and personal hygiene, as well as safe handling and storage of food onboard ship, in accordance with the learning outcomes and assessment criteria set out in annex 1 of MSN 1846 (M) Amendment 1. A ship’s cook must hold a qualification attesting these learning outcomes and must also complete the additional learning outcomes and assessment criteria set out in annex 2 and the standards of training certification and watchkeeping safety courses listed in section 3 of MSN 1846 (M) Amendment 1.

3. Online Delivery of courses

3.1 The MCA only accepts certificates from courses which are listed in MIN 689.

3.2 Online courses are required to be held with suitable control measures, to ensure that they remain an accepted qualification. Please note that the MCA will not accept course certificates which are not listed in MIN 689 and the MCA will not accept courses which have been delivered solely by computer-based training (CBT).

3.3 It is the responsibility of the student/applicant to contact the accredited course provider for a course listed in MIN 689 and establish how the course is to be delivered. If the course is delivered online, only courses delivered via a “virtual classroom” with interaction between the lecturer and students, and appropriate oversight of examinations, will be accepted.

4. Accepted Food Hygiene/Food Safety Qualifications

4.1 The qualifications and awarding bodies which the MCA accepts as meeting the learning outcomes and assessment criteria as set out in annex 1 of merchant shipping notice MSN 1846 (M) are listed on the following awarding body websites, with the Ofqual courses provided in tables 1 – 3 to this notice. Level 2 is the minimum acceptable level for ship’s cooks, catering staff and other persons processing food in the galley.

4.2 Ofqual Register

4.2.1 To find the latest list of accepted courses on the Ofqual register, you need to visit the Ofqual website and download the full register and review the spreadsheet titled qualifications. We have filtered this list for ease of reference but this notice is only updated yearly but available as tables 1, 2 & 3 below.

4.2.2 Qualification search criteria to be filtered within the downloadable qualifications list; https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Download

Filter by;

  • level 2, 3 & 4

  • hospitality in catering

  • food safety in catering qualifications

  • available to learners

4.3 Table 1: Level 2 Ofqual Courses which the MCA accepts

Qualification Number (whereapplicable) Qualification Title Owner Organisation Name Owner Organisation (short name) Qualification Level
501/1302/1 BIIAB Award in Food Safety in Catering BIIAB BIIAB Level 2
500/5186/6 City & Guilds Award in Food Safety in Catering City and Guilds of London Institute City & Guilds Level 2
603/6455/5 VTCT Award in Food Safety in Catering VTCT VTCT Level 2
600/0343/1 Ascentis Award in FoodSafety in Catering Ascentis Ascentis Level 2
603/2395/4 RSPH Award in Food Safety and Hygiene Royal Society for Public Health RSPH Level 2
603/3341/8 Skillsfirst Award in Food Hygiene Skillsfirst Awards Ltd Skillsfirst Level 2
603/6062/8 CTH Award in Food Safety and Hygiene The Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality CTH Level 2
600/4334/9 TLM Award in Food Safety in Catering The Learning Machine TLM Level 2
601/1157/4 NOCN Award in Food Safetyin Catering NOCN NOCN Level 2
600/9385/7 FAA Award In Food Safety in Catering FAA FAA Level 2
603/5849/X Qualifi Award in Food Hygiene, Safety and Professional Workplace Effectiveness Qualifi Ltd QUALIFI Level 2
603/0816/3 QNUK Award in Food Safety for Catering (RQF) Qualifications Network QNUK Level 2
603/5373/9 QNUK Award in Food Safety for Catering (Refresher) (RQF) Qualifications Network QNUK Level 2
603/4937/2 Highfield Award in Food Safety for Catering (RQF) Highfield Qualifications Highfield Qualifications Level 2
603/7698/3 Highfield Award in Food Safety for Catering (Refresher) (RQF) Highfield Qualifications Highfield Qualifications Level 2
603/0967/2 Highfield Award in Food Safety at Sea (RQF) Highfield Qualifications Highfield Qualifications Level 2
603/1290/7 Open Awards Award in Food Safety in Catering Open Awards Open Awards Level 2
603/4311/4 QA Award in Food Safety (Refresher) (RQF) Qualsafe Awards QA Level 2
603/2594/X QA Award in Food Safety in Catering (RQF) Qualsafe Awards QA Level 2
600/8219/7 AIM Qualifications Award in Food Safety in Catering AIM Qualifications AIM Level 2
601/7794/9 iCQ Award In Food Safety in Catering (RQF) iCan Qualifications Limited iCQ Level 2
601/7793/7 iCQ Level 2 Award in Maintaining Food Safety when Storing, Preparing and Cooking Food (RQF) iCan Qualifications iCQ Level 2
603/3328/5 ProQual Award in Food Safety Awareness ProQual Awarding Body ProQual Level 2
601/8269/6 GA Award in Food Safety for Catering (RQF) Gatehouse Awards GA Level 2
601/2512/3 TQUK Award in Food Safety in Catering (RQF) Training Qualifications UK Ltd TQUK Level 2

4.4 Table 2: Level 3 Ofqual Courses which the MCA accepts

QualificationNumber (where applicable) Qualification Title Owner Organisation Name Owner Organisation (short name) Qualification Level
600/5224/7 BIIAB Award In Supervising Food Safety in Catering BIIAB BIIAB Level 3
603/2396/6 RSPH Award in Supervising Food Safety and Hygiene Royal Society for Public Health RSPH Level 3
601/2681/4 FAA Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering First Aid Awards Ltd FAA Level 3
603/1022/4 QNUK Award in Food Safety Supervision for Catering (RQF) Qualifications Network QNUK Level 3
603/4942/6 Highfield Award in Food Safety for Catering (RQF) Highfield Qualifications Highfield Qualifications Level 3
603/0968/4 Highfield Award in Supervising Food Safety at Sea (RQF) Highfield Qualifications Highfield Qualifications Level 3
603/0880/1 QA Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering (RQF) Qualsafe Awards QA Level 3
601/2990/6 TQUK Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering (RQF) Training Qualifications UK Ltd TQUK Level 3
610/0380/3 LASER Award in Supervising Food Safety Laser Learning Awards LASER Level 3

4.5 Table 3: Level 4 Ofqual Courses which the MCA accepts

Qualification Number (where applicable) Qualification Title Owner Organisation Name Owner Organisation (short name) Qualification Level
603/2407/7 RSPH Award in Managing Food Safety and Hygiene Royal Society for Public Health RSPH Level 4
500/7327/8 Highfield Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering (RQF) Highfield Qualifications Highfield Qualifications Level 4

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 regulate, approve, accredit and monitor their own food safety/ hygiene courses at Levels 2 and 3, under the provisions of the CIEH Charter. These can be found on their website: https://www.cieh.org/cieh- for-business/training-programmes/food-safety-training/

5.1.2 The table below lists the qualifications for the CIEH courses that are no longer available and were discontinued on the certification end date shown. The MCA will continue to accept these certificates issued before the certification end date shown below.

Qualification Number CIEH Qualification Title Level Course End Date
600/0473/3 Award in Practical Food Safety for Catering 2 31 March 2017
500/5476/4 Award in Food Safety in Catering 2 23 June 2017
500/5475/2 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering 3 23 June 2017
500/5470/3 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering 4 21 July 2017

5.2 Royal Environmental Institute of Scotland

5.2.1    The following is a list of accepted courses. For the most up to date list, visit their website; https://rehis.com/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 is a list of courses/ qualifications that are no longer available. The MCA has previously recognised and accepted these certificates as fulfilling the learning outcomes and assessment criteria set out 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.

6.2 Table 4: Discontinued courses

Qualification Number (where applicable) Qualification Title Owner Organisation Name Owner Organisation (short name) Course / Certificate End Date
601/1327/3 ABC Level 2 Award In Food Safety in Catering (QCF) ABC Awards ABC 31 March2015
500/6524/5 ASCENTIS Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety in Catering(QCF) Ascentis Ascentis 28 February2015
500/6530/0 ASCENTIS Level 3 Award in Practical Supervision of Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Ascentis Ascentis 28 February2015
100/6227/0 OCNW Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety in Catering Ascentis Ascentis 30September 2011
100/6228/2 OCNW Level 3 Award in Practical Supervision of Food Safety in Catering Ascentis Ascentis 30September 2012
500/5470/3 CIEH Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Chartered Institute of Environmental Health CIEH 21 July 2017
500/5475/2 CIEH Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Chartered Institute of Environmental Health CIEH 23 June 2017
500/5476/4 CIEH Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Chartered Institute of Environmental Health CIEH 23 June 2017
500/1506/0 CIEH Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering Chartered Institute of Environmental Health CIEH 30 November 2011
100/6075/3 CIEH Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering Chartered Institute of Environmental Health CIEH 30 November 2011
600/0473/3 CIEH Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety for Catering (QCF) Chartered Institute of Environmental Health CIEH 31 March 2017
500/5910/5 City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering (QCF) City and Guilds of London Institute City & Guilds 31 December 2017
100/6200/2 City & Guilds Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering City and Guilds of London Institute City & Guilds 31 March 2013
100/6201/4 City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety for Catering City and Guilds of London Institute City & Guilds 31 March 2014
600/4326/X FDQ Level 3 Award In Practical Supervision of Food Safety in Catering (QCF) FDQ Limited FDQ 30 September 2015
601/1058/2 Gateway Qualifications Level 2 Award In Food Safety in Catering Gateway Qualifications Limited Gateway Qualifications 31 December 2017
500/8461/6 McDonalds Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering (QCF) McDonalds McDonalds 30 April 2017
500/6195/1 NCFE Level 3 Award in Practical Food Safety Supervision for Catering (QCF) NCFE NCFE 30 June 2016
500/6210/4 NCFE Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety for Catering (QCF) NCFE NCFE 31December 2015
100/6220/8 NCFE Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety in Catering NCFE NCFE 31 August 2011
100/6221/X NCFE Level 3 Award in Practical Supervision of Food Safety in Catering NCFE NCFE 31 August 2012
500/6260/8 Pearson EDI Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Pearson EDI Pearson EDI 30 September 2016
500/6261/X Pearson EDI Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Pearson EDI Pearson EDI 30 September 2016
500/6266/9 Pearson EDI Level 3 Award in Practical Food Safety Supervision for Catering (QCF) Pearson EDI Pearson EDI 31 December 2016
100/5858/8 EDI Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety in Catering Pearson EDI Pearson EDI 31 August 2011
100/5859/X EDI Level 3 Award in Practical Supervision of Food Safety in Catering Pearson EDI Pearson EDI 30 November 2011
500/1684/2 EDI Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering Pearson EDI Pearson EDI 30 June 2011
600/3290/X Pearson BTEC Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering Pearson Education Ltd Pearson 30 June 2017
600/3291/1 Pearson BTEC Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering Pearson Education Ltd Pearson 30 June 2017
601/1145/8 Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Pearson Education Ltd Pearson 31 March 2016
600/5460/8 Qualifi Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Food Handlers (VRQ) Qualifi Ltd QUALIFI 31 July 2015
600/3918/8 QNUK Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Qualifications Network QNUK 31 December 2016
600/8920/9 QA Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Qualsafe Awards QA 05 March 2018
500/1924/7 RIPH Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering Royal Institute of Public Health RIPH 30 November 2011
100/1584/X RIPH Advanced Certificate in Food Safety Royal Institute of Public Health RIPH 31 December 2009
500/1637/4 RIPH Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering Royal Institute of Public Health RIPH 30 November 2011
500/3768/7 RSPH Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (QCF) Royal Society for Public Health RSPH 31 December 2010
500/5480/6 RSPH Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering Royal Society for Public Health RSPH 31 May 2018
500/5483/1 RSPH Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering Royal Society for Public Health RSPH 31 May 2018
500/5484/3 RSPH Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering Royal Society for Public Health RSPH 31 July 2018
100/5848/5 RSPH Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering Royal Society for Public Health RSPH 31 December 2011
100/5823/0 RSPH Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering Royal Society for Public Health RSPH 30 November 2010
100/5824/2 RSPH Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering Royal Society for Public Health RSPH 30 November 2011
601/8306/8 RSPH Level 2 Foundation Award in Food Hygiene Royal Society for Public Health RSPH 31 July 2018
601/4956/5 AoFAQ Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering (RQF) Awarding Organisation for Accredited Qualifications AOFAQ 31 December 2018
601/3364/8 TQUK Level 4 Award in Food Safety Management for Catering (RQF) Training Qualifications UK Ltd TQUK 28 February 2019
603/2033/3 Highfield Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (RQF) Highfield Qualifications Highfield Qualifications 31 December 2019
601/3746/0 BSC Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering British Safety Council BSC 30 April 2020
601/3777/0 BSC Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering British Safety Council BSC 30 April 2020
600/4678/8 VTCT Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering VTCT VTCT 31 December 2020
600/1306/0 FAQ Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering Future Awards and Qualifications FAQ 09 March 2022
600/1367/9 FAQ Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering Future Awards and Qualifications FAQ 09 March 2022
600/1368/0 FAQ Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering Future Awards and Qualifications FAQ 09 March 2022
603/2043/6 Highfield Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (Refresher) (RQF) Highfield Qualifications Highfield Qualifications 31 January 2023
500/8419/7 FDQ Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering FDQ Ltd FDQ 31 December 2023
600/4327/1 FDQ Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering FDQ Ltd FDQ 31 December 2024
603/2706/6 SafeCert Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering (RQF) SafeCert Awards SafeCert 20 September 2024

7. Contact information

7.1 For information relating to MCA acceptance of certificates for ship’s cooks please contact seafarers.registry@mcga.gov.uk

More information

Seafarer Safety and Health Branch
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/17
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Telephone: +44 (0)203 81 72250

Email: seafarersafety@mcga.gov.uk

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

Please note that all addresses and telephone numbers are correct at time of publishing.