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    Trainees who successfully complete the "Basic Food Safety and Hygiene" course launched by the Skills Upgrading Scheme (SUS) will be recognised by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) as qualified Hygiene Supervisors, a spokesman for the Education and Manpower Bureau said today (April 28).

    The FEHD will introduce the Hygiene Manager and Hygiene Supervisor Scheme with effect from May 30, 2005, to reinforce food hygiene and safety supervision in licensed food premises. In accordance with the scheme, all licensed food premises are required to appoint a Hygiene Manager and/or a Hygiene Supervisor with regard to the size of their food establishment.

    "The recognition of the SUS course will create a win-win situation for industry employers and employees. So far, about 3,800 trainees have successfully completed the SUS course. This will provide a pool of trained workers for the employers and facilitate their compliance of the FEHD's requirement," the spokesman said.

    "The course will also help upgrade the skills of the employees and enhance their competitiveness in the industry," he said.

    After thorough study on the course content, duration and assessment criteria, the FEHD accepted that the course requirement had matched the qualifications of the Hygiene Supervisor. A trainee who has successfully completed the following course/module, together with a relevant certificate issued by the SUS Secretariat, will be considered by the FEHD as qualified Hygiene Supervisor:

a) SUS Chinese Catering Industry "Basic Food Safety and Hygiene" course; or

b) "Food Safety and Hygiene" module of the Chinese Catering Skills Enhancement Project.

    Further details of the course can be obtained by calling the SUS hotline at 2836 1234 or browsing the SUS website at http://sus.vtc.edu.hk/index.asp.

Ends/Thursday, April 28, 2005

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