Initial instruction for commercial handling of foodstuffs

Course description

Why is training necessary?

Contamination of food with pathogens poses a significant health risk to the public. The Infection Protection Act therefore sets out regulations concerning health requirements for people who come into contact with food in a commercial context. To ensure that staff in kitchens, restaurants and communal catering facilities are aware of and comply with these regulations, the law requires them to undergo regular training on food handling.

• ​The initial training is provided by the public health authority or a doctor authorised by the public health authority. ​
• ​The person receiving the training is issued with a certificate confirming this initial training.​
• The certificate must not be more than three months old when the person takes up their post.
• Follow-up training must be provided by the employer every two years. The follow-up training must be documented and this documentation retained.
• The certificate confirming the initial training does not lose its validity.

Who must receive training?

The following must receive training

• ​Employees in kitchens, restaurants and establishments providing communal catering.​

• Volunteers working for organisations with kitchens, communal catering facilities or food supply services

• Pupils undertaking work placements in these sectors as part of their school curriculum

​Pupils undertaking a compulsory work placement and volunteers required to receive training will be provided with training free of charge. ​

The following are not required to receive training

• Volunteers at club festivals or similar events are not subject to the statutory training requirement.

To prevent foodborne infections, please refer to the guidelines issued by the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection on the safe handling of food.

Training at the Health Department of the City of Munich

• Training courses organised by the Health Department are available to people who are resident or permanently based within the city of Munich.
• The Health Department offers training exclusively online.
• Training is available in the following languages: Albanian*, Arabic, Bulgarian*, Chinese*, German (including sign language), German (plain language), English, Farsi, French*, Greek*, Italian*, Japanese*, Korean*, Croatian*, Kurdish*, Polish, Portuguese*, Romanian, Russian, Serbian*, Slovak*, Spanish*, Czech*, Turkish*, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Vietnamese*

​*These foreign languages are displayed as subtitles in the German-language instructional film​

Prerequisites

• PC, notebook, tablet or smartphone
• activated camera
• a video identification procedure. The Technology Centre recommends the "tzg Video-Ident" APP, Facetime, Ginlo or Signal are also suitable. You must download the selected procedure from a webstore for IOS or Android to your smartphone in good time before the booked instruction date.
• stable internet connection

Required documents

• Valid official photo ID (for those aged 16 and over)

• For free guidance:
  • Confirmation from the school regarding an upcoming compulsory work placement or
  • Confirmation from the organisation regarding voluntary work

Legal basis

§ 43 Infection Protection Act