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Does a food hygiene certificate expire?
No law sets an expiry date for a food hygiene certificate. GOV.UK's guidance for food businesses says food handlers don't have to hold a certificate at all, but you must be able to show your staff have the right skills and up-to-date training for their role.
Councils recommend regular refresher training. East Devon District Council recommends a refresher at least once every three years, and the London Borough of Bromley says nationally recognised certificates should be updated every three years.
Level 1
Staff who only handle wrapped food, receive deliveries or wash up
Level 2
Anyone who handles open or high-risk food, such as cooks and kitchen assistants
Level 3
Supervisors and team leaders, and owners or managers of small food businesses
How long does a level 2 food hygiene certificate last?
The same as any other level: there is no legal expiry date. With councils recommending a refresher every three years, record a renewal date three years after the certificate date, unless your own policy or a client asks for a shorter one.
Level 2 matters because councils treat it as the starting point for food handlers. East Devon says people handling open food should be trained to at least level 2, and Bromley recommends it as the minimum for staff working with high-risk foods.
Do food handlers need a food hygiene certificate?
No. GOV.UK says skills can be learned on a course, through training on the job, by self-study or from relevant previous experience. What you must be able to show is that each person has the training their role needs.
That is why records matter. GOV.UK says to keep a record of the training staff have completed so you can show it during an inspection, and Bromley notes it is hard to prove the right level of training without a recognised qualification and training records.
Allergen training
Allergen training is separate from the food hygiene levels. GOV.UK says all staff should have appropriate training to manage allergens in their role, and the Food Standards Agency runs free online food allergy training. Record it alongside each person's food hygiene certificate.
What to record for each food handler
Keep one record per person that shows their level, when they trained and when the refresher is due, so the renewal is booked before the date rather than found at an inspection.
- Food hygiene level and course, such as Level 2 Food Safety in Catering
- Training provider and certificate date
- The renewal date you set, three years on unless your policy says otherwise
- A copy of the certificate, or notes of on-the-job training and who gave it
- Allergen training and its date
- Their role and site, such as kitchen, bar or front of house
How SkillProof helps
SkillProof records each person's food hygiene level as a training requirement for their role, with the certificate date, the renewal date and a copy of the certificate. Training records, role requirements and evidence uploads are on every plan.
Starter shows basic due dates and sends standard automated training due and overdue email reminders. Growth adds configurable reminder schedules, recipients and templates, so a kitchen manager hears before a refresher is due.
SkillProof doesn't deliver or certify food hygiene training. The training renewal periods guide lists other common certificates, and the hospitality page shows how teams set requirements by department.
Official guidance used for this guide
Checked
GOV.UK food business guidance and council food hygiene training pages used for this article. Always check your own council's current advice.
Questions this guide answers
Does a food hygiene certificate expire?
Not in law. Councils recommend refresher training at least every three years, so record a renewal date three years after the certificate date.
How long does a level 2 food hygiene certificate last?
There is no legal expiry date. Councils such as East Devon and Bromley recommend refreshing it every three years.
Is a food hygiene certificate a legal requirement?
No. GOV.UK says food handlers don't have to hold one. You must be able to show that staff have the right skills and up-to-date training for their role, and keep a record of it.
Which food hygiene level do staff need?
Councils usually point to Level 1 for staff who only handle wrapped food, Level 2 for anyone handling open or high-risk food, and Level 3 for supervisors and managers.
Do food staff need allergen training?
Yes. GOV.UK says all staff should have appropriate training to manage allergens in their role. The Food Standards Agency runs free online food allergy training.
Does SkillProof provide food hygiene training?
No. SkillProof records who needs food hygiene training, who holds which level and when each refresher is due, and sends reminders before it is.