Training Pages

HPCSA Accredited Food Safety Training for Persons in Charge of Food Premises (FS01)

This Food Safety Training for Persons in Charge Course supports supervisors, managers, business owners and food premises leaders who need practical understanding of food hygiene, GMP, HACCP fundamentals and the legal expectations linked to Regulations R638 in South Africa.

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FS01 Course code
17h Online self-paced duration
2 days Virtual or classroom duration
70% Pass rate for certificate
Food Safety Training for Persons in Charge of Food Premises course image
Course focus Practical food safety training for the person in charge of food premises, with strong emphasis on hygiene controls, legal duties, GMP, HACCP awareness and implementation confidence.
Our classroom options

Choose the delivery format that fits your schedule, team size and learning needs

This training page supports three delivery routes: online self-paced training, virtual instructor-led classroom sessions and physical classroom or onsite delivery.

Option 1

Online Self-paced Training

A flexible option for learners who want to start immediately and progress at their own pace.

  • ✓HPCSA Accredited
  • ✓Approximate duration: 17 hours
  • ✓Budget-friendly and convenient
  • ✓Certificate available after successful completion
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Option 2

Virtual Classroom Training

Instructor-led sessions delivered online for businesses or individuals who prefer guided learning and live interaction.

  • ✓HPCSA Accredited
  • ✓Duration: 2 days
  • ✓Presented via Zoom
  • ✓Good for structured class participation
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Option 3

Physical Classroom Training

Best suited to companies wanting onsite or in-house classroom delivery for teams and operational groups.

  • ✓HPCSA Accredited
  • ✓Duration: 2 days
  • ✓Ideal for onsite company training
  • ✓Minimum classroom size may apply
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Course overview

Built for legal relevance, practical implementation and operational confidence

The course is designed for businesses and individuals who need a practical understanding of food safety expectations for food premises and supervisory responsibility.

Regulatory alignment

This course is aligned to the requirements of Regulations R638 under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972, including the training expectation for a person in charge of food premises.

Operational usability

Learners are introduced to real food hygiene practices, temperature control, GMP expectations, documentation awareness, foodborne illness basics and operational controls that matter on site.

Accredited learning

The programme is HPCSA accredited and suitable for learners needing recognised training support that can be used as evidence of food safety training where relevant.

Course Introduction

This Food Safety Training for Persons in Charge Course introduces the fundamentals of food safety practices, GMP and HACCP principles to the person in charge of food handling premises. It is especially useful for those new to the food industry or new to the legal and practical requirements relating to food safety in South Africa.

  • ✓Useful for Certificate of Acceptability preparation contexts
  • ✓Supports food premises leadership responsibilities
  • ✓Introduces compliance expectations in a practical way

Who Should Attend?

This course is highly relevant for people responsible for oversight, food handling supervision, operational controls and hygiene management within food businesses.

  • ✓Persons in charge of food premises
  • ✓Supervisors and managers in food operations
  • ✓QA and QC managers
  • ✓HACCP and food safety teams
  • ✓Internal and supplier auditors
  • ✓Business owners and top management

Minimum prerequisite: None

Course content

Key topics covered in the training programme

The outline below reflects the core themes introduced across the course and the practical competency areas learners are expected to understand.

Core learning topics

  • ✓Introduction to food safety, food quality and food safety hazards
  • ✓Detailed explanation of Regulations R638 requirements
  • ✓Temperature control and management
  • ✓Introduction to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
  • ✓Introduction to foodborne illness and causes
  • ✓Pest control and waste control basics
  • ✓Personal hygiene, grooming, health, behaviour and clothing requirements
  • ✓Cleaning and sanitising fundamentals

Additional practical coverage

  • ✓Food storage containers and packaging material requirements
  • ✓Essential documentation awareness
  • ✓Brief overview of HACCP
  • ✓Brief overview of food defence
  • ✓Brief overview of food fraud
  • ✓Brief overview of traceability and recall
  • ✓Regular assessments to support competency
Benefits

What learners and businesses gain from this course

The goal is not just course completion. The goal is better operational understanding, stronger compliance awareness and practical confidence.

Practical understanding

Learners should leave with a clearer understanding of the basic food safety requirements applicable to food premises.

Certificate of achievement

A certificate of achievement is issued after successful completion, subject to the required pass mark of 70%.

Evidence of training

The certificate may be used as supporting evidence of food safety training for the person in charge where relevant.

Helpful note: if your organisation is preparing for local authority engagement, operational upgrades or stronger hygiene management, this course can support those efforts as part of a broader training and implementation plan.
Upcoming dates

Upcoming virtual classroom training events

Bookings two weeks in advance are recommended. These dates relate to virtual instructor-led sessions. On-demand team bookings for virtual or physical classroom delivery can also be discussed.

Venue: Virtual via Zoom  •  Time: 09:00 am to 04:30 pm (UTC/GMT +2)
7 to 8 July 2026
Course enquiry

Need FS01 training pricing, registration support or onsite training details?

If you need support with FS01 course registration, virtual classroom dates, onsite team training, pricing or help choosing the best delivery format, complete the form and ASC will review your enquiry.

Course code FS01 – Food Safety Training for Persons in Charge of Food Premises
Training formats Online self-paced, virtual instructor-led classroom and physical classroom / onsite company training
Useful for Pricing enquiries, team bookings, virtual classroom registration, onsite training requests and course selection support
Quick links Go to the online self-paced course
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Frequently asked questions

Common questions about the Food Safety Training for Persons in Charge Course

Yes. This training page is for the HPCSA accredited Food Safety Training for Persons in Charge of Food Premises course.
It is intended for persons in charge of food premises, supervisors, managers, QA/QC staff, HACCP teams, auditors and business owners who need a practical understanding of food safety responsibilities.
Yes. The course content is based on the requirements of Regulations R638 and is relevant to the food hygiene and food premises management responsibilities described there.
You can choose between online self-paced learning, virtual instructor-led classroom training or physical classroom / onsite training depending on your needs.
Yes. A certificate of achievement is issued after successful completion, subject to the course pass requirement.
Discussion

Questions, feedback and comments

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6 Comments

Recent questions and responses from learners and the ASC team.

Quick summary

The food safety training course for persons in charge equips supervisors and managers responsible for food premises with the knowledge to oversee food hygiene, GMP and food safety compliance in South Africa. It covers GMP awareness, HACCP basics and Regulation R638 responsibilities, helping the person in charge supervise food handlers, maintain hygiene standards and meet legal food-premises obligations.

Key facts

  • Who it's for: persons in charge, supervisors and managers of food premises
  • Covers: food hygiene oversight, GMP awareness, HACCP basics, Regulation R638 responsibilities
  • Focus: supervising food handlers and maintaining hygiene compliance
  • Delivery: online self-paced, virtual or in-house classroom
  • Certificate: certificate of completion issued on passing
  • Areas served: South Africa nationwide, including Gqeberha, Johannesburg and Cape Town

Frequently asked questions

What is the food safety training course for persons in charge?

It is a course for the person responsible for a food premises, covering how to oversee food hygiene, GMP and food safety compliance. Learners study Regulation R638 responsibilities, HACCP basics and good manufacturing practice so they can supervise food handlers, monitor hygiene standards and keep the premises operating safely and legally in South Africa.

Who is a 'person in charge' of food premises under R638?

Under Regulation R638, the person in charge is the individual responsible for managing a food premises and ensuring its food handlers comply with hygiene requirements. This is typically a supervisor, manager or owner. This course prepares that person to fulfil their oversight duties, including instructing and supervising staff in food hygiene practices.

How does this course differ from food handler training?

Food handler training focuses on the practical hygiene practices each handler must follow, while the persons-in-charge course adds the supervisory and compliance responsibilities of managing a food premises. It covers overseeing food handlers, maintaining hygiene systems and understanding the legal duties placed on the person in charge under Regulation R638.

Is there a SETA accredited version of the persons in charge course?

Yes. Alongside this course, ASC offers a FoodBev SETA accredited Food Safety training for the person in charge of food premises that maps to Regulation R638. If you specifically need SETA accreditation for compliance or funding purposes, contact ASC, who can advise which persons-in-charge course best fits your requirements.

How is the persons in charge food safety course delivered?

ASC delivers the persons-in-charge course online self-paced, as scheduled virtual sessions, or in-house at your premises across South Africa. In-house delivery lets you train supervisors using your own operation as the practical context. Contact ASC to choose the format and arrange dates that suit your management team.

Will persons in charge receive a certificate?

Yes. On successfully completing the food safety training for persons in charge, learners receive a certificate of completion. This documents that the person responsible for the food premises has been trained in food hygiene oversight and Regulation R638 responsibilities, supporting your records and demonstrating due diligence to inspectors and auditors.

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