Instruction according to the Infection Protection Act; certificate

You want to work in the food manufacturing or processing industry, in the food trade or in gastronomy, or you want to start your own business.

In particular, the contagious diseases listed in § 42 paragraph 1 IfSG can be transmitted to other people via food. Therefore, the Infection Protection Act prohibits people from certain activities in the food sector if they suffer from such a disease. In implementing the regulation, it is particularly important that people cooperate on their own responsibility. To ensure that you are informed about the relevant legal regulation and your obligations if you wish to carry out such activities, the Infection Protection Act stipulates that you are to be instructed accordingly by the public health department before taking up the activity. In addition, you must confirm in writing that there are no indications that you are prohibited from working. The health authority will issue a certificate to this effect. As a rule, the instructions also teach the principles of infection hygiene for handling food.

Such prior instruction and certification is required for the following activities if the activity is carried out on a professional basis:

1. Manufacture, treatment or placing on the market of the following foodstuffs if you come into contact with the foodstuffs or with consumer goods (for example when cleaning dishes) in such a way that pathogens can be transmitted:
   • Meat, poultrymeat and products thereof
   • Milk and milk-based products
   • Fish, crustaceans or molluscs and products thereof
   • Egg products
   • Infant and toddler food
   • Ice cream and semi-finished ice cream products
   • Baked goods with fillings or toppings that are not baked through or heated through
   • Delicatessen, raw vegetable and potato salads, marinades, mayonnaises, other emulsified sauces, nutritional yeasts
   • Sprouts and germ buds for raw consumption and seeds for the production of sprouts and germ buds for raw consumption.
2. Work in kitchens of restaurants and other establishments with or for communal catering.

The regulation applies to both employees and self-employed persons. Volunteers may also be involved in "commercial" activities.

The certificate from the health authority only has to be obtained once before the first exercise of a corresponding activity. The certificate is valid nationwide and for an unlimited period. If you already have a health certificate according to the former Federal Law on Epidemics, you no longer need a certificate. The old certificates remain valid.

For the instruction, you must make an appointment with your health office. After the instruction, you will be given the certificate of attendance.

Who must attend a briefing?

Producing, treating or placing food on the market if you come into contact with the food or with consumer goods (for example when cleaning dishes) in such a way that pathogens can be transmitted.

z.B.:

• Service staff, kitchen staff
• Cleaning staff in the food sector
• Retail from the food trade (Not only meat counter)
• Members of the association (voluntary activities)
• Coffee and cake sale
• Sausage stand
• Old people's home & day care centre staff (also cleaning staff in the food sector)
• Food manufacturer