Requirements for Food Hygiene Officers

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What is a Food Hygiene Officer (FHO)?

FHOs are supervisory personnel who oversee and implement effective food hygiene measures for food establishments to ensure food is prepared in a safe and hygienic manner.

FHOs assist the licensee in establishing, monitoring, and maintaining proper food safety systems. They conduct regular checks and educate food handlers, reminding them to adhere to good food safety practices and personal hygiene during food preparation.

Advanced Food Hygiene Officers (Advanced FHOs)

Advanced FHOs are supervisory personnel who establish and oversee the food safety standards of their food establishment by developing, implementing, and managing Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS).

Additionally, Advanced FHOs conduct internal audits of the FSMS and address any potential non-compliance with SFA regulations.

For more details on establishments that require an Advanced FHO, see Understanding the Safety Assurance for Food Establishment (SAFE) Framework.

FHOs	Advanced FHOs
Must be supervisory personnel	Must be supervisory personnel
Hold a valid WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 3 certificate	Hold a valid WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 4 certificate
If handling food: Attend retraining* in WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 1 or 2, within 5 years from the date of passing WSQ FSC Level 3 Attend retraining* (i.e. WSQ FSC Level 1 or Level 2) within 10-year mark from the date of passing the last retraining course	If handling food, Advanced FHOs must have attained any of the following: WSQ FSC Level 1 WSQ FSC Level 2 WSQ FSC Level 3 To continue handling food, Advanced FHOs must attain the following: Attend retraining* (i.e. WSQ FSC Level 1 or Level 2) within 5-year mark from the date of passing the last WSQ FSC certification Attend retraining* (i.e. WSQ FSC Level 1 or Level 2) within 10-year mark from the date of passing the last retraining course

FHOs

Advanced FHOs

Must be supervisory personnel

Hold a valid WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 3 certificate

Hold a valid WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 4 certificate

If handling food:

Attend retraining* in WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 1 or 2, within 5 years from the date of passing WSQ FSC Level 3
Attend retraining* (i.e. WSQ FSC Level 1 or Level 2) within 10-year mark from the date of passing the last retraining course

If handling food, Advanced FHOs must have attained any of the following:

WSQ FSC Level 1
WSQ FSC Level 2
WSQ FSC Level 3

To continue handling food, Advanced FHOs must attain the following:

Attend retraining* (i.e. WSQ FSC Level 1 or Level 2) within 5-year mark from the date of passing the last WSQ FSC certification
Attend retraining* (i.e. WSQ FSC Level 1 or Level 2) within 10-year mark from the date of passing the last retraining course

Requirements for Food Hygiene Officers (FHOs)

What is a Food Hygiene Officer (FHO)?

Singapore Food Agency

Who qualifies to be an FHO for my business?

What is the role or duties of the FHO?

What are the benefits of having FHOs?

How do licensees ensure that their FHOs are registered with SFA?

Note

Last Updated 27 April 2026