MIN 689 (M) Maritime labour convention,2006 food and catering recognised qualifications for food hygiene and food safety in catering for ship's cooks and others processing food in the galley
Published 18 November 2022
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/min-689-m-mlc-food-and-catering-recognised-qualifications/min-689-m-maritime-labour-convention2006-food-and-catering-recognised-qualifications-for-food-hygiene-and-food-safety-in-catering-for-ships-cooks
This MIN replaces MIN 671 (M) and expires 30th 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 referred to, 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 are to 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 and 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) amendment 1 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;
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 (where applicable) | 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 Food Safety 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 Safety in 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
| Qualification Number (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 |
| 603/2706/6 | SafeCert Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering (RQF) | SafeCert Awards | SafeCert | 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. CIEH and REHIS registers
5.1 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 | certification 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 (REHIS)
5.2.1 The following is a list of accepted courses. For the most up to date list, visit their website; https://www.rehis.com/community-training
| REHIS | |
| 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 on the discontinued table 4 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 March 2015 |
| 500/6524/5 | ASCENTIS Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety in Catering (QCF) | Ascentis | Ascentis | 28 February 2015 |
| 500/6530/0 | ASCENTIS Level 3 Award in Practical Supervision of Food Safety in Catering (QCF) | Ascentis | Ascentis | 28 February 2015 |
| 100/6227/0 | OCNW Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety in Catering | Ascentis | Ascentis | 30 September 2011 |
| 100/6228/2 | OCNW Level 3 Award in Practical Supervision of Food Safety in Catering | Ascentis | Ascentis | 30 September 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 |
7. Contact information
7.1 For information relating to MCA acceptance of certificates for ship’s cooks please contact seafarers.registry@mcga.gov.uk
8. 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.