Certificate of Acceptability: staff training and records
Your Certificate of Acceptability depends on your premises meeting R638. Staff training is part of that. Here is how to keep training current and show it.
A Certificate of Acceptability (CoA) is issued to a food premises by the local authority's environmental health practitioners when the premises complies with R638. Because R638 makes the person in charge responsible for ensuring food handlers are trained, it helps to keep clear training records: formal certificates plus evidence of ongoing refresher sessions, such as recorded Food Safety Legends game sessions.
Where training fits into a CoA
The CoA is about the premises and how it is run: structure, equipment, water, waste, pest control, and the people handling food. Inspectors can look at hygiene practices on the day and ask how staff are trained. Clear, up-to-date records make that conversation easy.
For the difference between a CoA and a personal food safety certificate, see food safety courses and certificates. This is a practical summary, not legal advice; your local municipality sets the application process.
A simple training-records checklist
- Person in charge: formal food safety training certificate
- Every food handler: food handler training certificate or record (with date)
- Induction record for new staff (date, topics, supervisor)
- Refresher session log: date, format, topics, attendees and signatures
- Actions taken when a session revealed a gap
Keeping training visible between inspections
Run a short refresher every month and log it. A Food Safety Legends session takes 30–60 minutes, covers hygiene, cross-contamination, allergens and temperature control, and gives you a natural record: who played, which topics came up and what you will fix.
Common questions
Who issues a Certificate of Acceptability?
The local authority (municipality) through its environmental health practitioners, after the premises is found to comply with R638.
Do inspectors check staff training?
R638 requires the person in charge to ensure food handlers are trained, so inspectors may look at practices and ask how training is done. Keeping records makes this straightforward.
Will a food safety game get me a CoA?
No. A game does not certify anything. It helps you keep training current and gives you a record of ongoing refresher sessions.
Ready to make food safety training stick?
Order Food Safety Legends for your team, or ask us how it fits your training programme.
