MANDATORY FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION REGULATION

The Board of Health, City of Haverhill, in accordance with and under the authority granted by Section 31 of Chapter III of the Massachusetts General Laws, promulgated and adopted the following regulation on July 19, 1988 to become effective on September 1, 1988.

All persons, firms or corporations that operate a food establishment in the City of Haverhill, or as may be required by the Board of Health or its representative, shall maintain in employment at least one full-time equivalent owner, manager or operator who is certified as having completed all requirements of the Board of Health's Mandatory Food Handlers Certification Program. The licensee shall be responsible for the costs incurred for compliance with this regulation.

The goal of the program is to train owners, managers and operators of food establishments in the City of Haverhill, in proper, safe and sanitary methods of storing and handling consumable products.

Food service establishments shall have one year from the effective date of this regulation to be in compliance. After the year, no food service establishment shall be in operation or open for business without having an owner, operator, or manager in its employment who has completed the Mandatory Food Handlers Program. New establishments, or establishments with a change of ownership shall attend the first food training class as ordered per the Board of Health.

The course must be taught an approved accredited program and consist of a minimum of six hours of classroom training.

It shall be up to the discretion of the Board of Health, or their representative to determine whether limited food service establishments, including but not limited to retail food establishments offering only pre-packaged foods and coffee for sale to the public, shall be exempt from the requirements of this regulation.

Notification and scheduling of food establishment personnel shall be handled by the Board of Health or their representative.