Working with food
Infection protection law, bans on activity and employment
Everyone working with foodstuffs of animal origin and in facilities for mass catering is obliged to undertake initial instruction on illnesses, their appearance and symptoms, contagion risks and personal hygiene (Section 43 Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz)). This applies for both employees and employers.
This initial instruction is given by the following district office:Eimsbüttel - Gesundheitsamt (Public Health Office) -
Grindelberg 62 - 66
20144 Hamburg
Phone +49 40 42801-3409
Office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays
From 8am to 10:30am and 1:30pm to 3pm.
Registration is not required.
You can also have the instruction given by a licensed physician. If you want to make use of this option, please make an appointment with the relevant medical practice. A breakdown of the licensed physicians who are permitted to perform instruction in accordance with Section 43 Infection Protection Act (IfSG) on behalf of the Eimsbüttel District Office can be found in the City of Hamburg’s public authority finder.
The certificate from the public health office is valid for life. Persons working with foodstuffs must be instructed in hygiene regulations by their employer on the 1st working day, and then regularly every 2 years. In the case of a change of workplace, the instruction certificate must be submitted to the new employer.
The certificate from the public health office is valid for life. Persons working with foodstuffs must be instructed in hygiene regulations by their employer on the 1st working day, and then regularly every 2 years. In the case of a change of workplace, the instruction certificate must be submitted to the new employer.
As an entrepreneur, you must also regularly refresh your own knowledge; this can generally take place in the course of preparing for employee instruction. This must be documented. In the case of requests from the monitoring authorities, you must be able to prove, by providing answers, that you are familiar with Sections 42 and 43 Infection Protection Act (IfSG) and that can you interpret this according to practice.