If you are a Veterinary Surgeon delivering Official Controls in slaughter houses or cutting plants, this course will help you towards the Higher Certificate in Food Control which will enable you to work in other food premises.
The Food Law Code of Practice (England) issued by the Food Standards Agency in 2015 and updated in March 2017 clarifies the training and qualification requirements for officers who can be authorised for the delivery of official controls (hygiene and standards).
It sets the baseline qualification for such officers as the Higher Certificate in Food Control and has approved a syllabus that must be followed to acquire this qualification.
EU Veterinary Surgeons with qualifications listed in annex V point 5.4.2 DIRECTIVE 2005/36/EC can be approved to deliver controls in slaughter houses, game handling establishments and cutting plants but not in other food premises in the UK.
In order to deliver official controls in other premises they must also acquire the Higher Certificate in Food Control. Existing accredited routes to the Higher Certificate in Food Control are mainly designed for candidates with no previous enforcement experience.
This programme was designed as a fast track qualification for EU Veterinary Surgeons who already have experience in the delivery of official controls in UK slaughter houses, game handling establishments and cutting plants.
Why choose Birmingham?
It provides an opportunity to:
- Learn from a multidisciplinary team of leading specialists having applied knowledge and strong links with the government authorities and the food industry
- Develop transferable skills that can be used for many aspects of food safety and security
- Study in a School with a first class reputation in learning, teaching and research, based in a vibrant multicultural city
- Study a programme accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
A final comment sums up the opinion of many of the students: ‘My Birmingham experience was amazing; a high level of science, in a multicultural city and a world class university. So keep up the hard work and enjoy Birmingham.’