What food hygiene certificate do I need? A plain UK answer

You don't legally need a food hygiene certificate to handle or sell food in the UK. The law says food handlers must be supervised and trained in food hygiene to a level that suits their job, and you must be able to prove it. So what level of food hygiene do you need? In practice, a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate is the usual proof for anyone who prepares or serves food, including home bakers. Supervisors and owners usually take Level 3. Front-of-house staff who only handle wrapped food may need just Level 1 or in-house training.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your council's food safety team decides whether training is adequate for your business.

What the law actually says

GOV.UK puts it simply: "Food handlers do not have to hold a food hygiene certificate." But "you must be able to show that your staff have the right skills and up-to-date training for their role", and you should keep a record of training to show at inspection.

The legal duty comes from retained EU hygiene law (Regulation 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII). It says food business operators must make sure:

• food handlers are supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene matters for their work
• the people responsible for your food safety management system (HACCP) have adequate training in HACCP principles
• staff meet any national training requirements

So a certificate is the easiest evidence, not the requirement itself. Training can also come from on-the-job instruction, supervision, self-study or past experience, as long as you can show it.

Which level do I need? By role

Many councils suggest staff who handle open, high-risk food reach Level 2 within three months of starting. That's council guidance, not law. Until then, new staff should be supervised closely.

Scotland: the same law applies. Many Scottish councils and employers use REHIS (Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland) courses instead: Elementary Food Hygiene for food handlers and Intermediate Food Hygiene for supervisors. The REHIS exam is sat at an approved training centre, even if you learn online.

What's the difference between Level 1, 2 and 3?

Catering, retail or manufacturing? Pick the version that matches your work. Cafés, restaurants, takeaways, home bakers and caterers usually take the catering version.

Do I need a food hygiene certificate to sell cakes from home?

Not by law, but you must be trained, and Level 2 is what most councils expect to see when they inspect a home kitchen. It's quick to do online. You must also:

• register with your council at least 28 days before selling
• have a food safety system such as Safer Food, Better Business
• give allergen information for every product, and label any food packed before it's ordered (see Natasha's Law)

The full steps are in how to start a cake business from home and selling food from home in the UK.

How long does a food hygiene certificate last?

Food hygiene certificates don't legally expire. But GOV.UK says staff need up-to-date training for their role, and practices change. There's no set renewal period in law, so plan regular refreshers and note the due date in your training records. Retrain sooner if you change role, the law changes or an inspection finds gaps.

How much does a food hygiene certificate cost?

Online Level 2 courses from accredited providers typically cost around £12 to £30 per person including VAT, and Level 3 costs more. Some councils run their own courses. The FSA's online allergen training is free: six modules, with a certificate if you score 85% or more.

Check before you pay: choose a course that's accredited or certified (for example by a recognised awarding body or CPD body) and matches your sector. A certificate from an unknown site may not convince an inspector.

Other certificates you might need (that aren't food hygiene)

Keep your training records ready

At inspection, the officer may ask staff questions and check your training records. Keep a simple sheet like this, with one row per person:

It's part of "confidence in management", the score that most often decides whether you get a 5-star rating. Our HACCP plan template has the same training record table to copy.

Selling from home or a small kitchen?

Once you're registered and trained, the next step is taking orders without endless DMs. Menuthere gives you a free ordering page and QR code. Customers pick products, choose collection or delivery, and you get the order on your phone. There's 0% commission, and the Free plan includes 50 orders a month. On every plan, including Free, you can tag any of the 14 allergens and the calories on each product, and customers see them when they open it. Keep an allergen chart as well. Scheduled pre-orders (great for cakes) come with Lite (US$17 a month, billed in US dollars; your bank converts it) and above.

Home baker? See our page for.

Create your free ordering pagehome bakers