Essential Food Safety

Training & Certification

Frequently Asked Questions

February 2010

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 Question/ Enquiry ADFCA Response

ADFCA has planned the training activities on five-year

phases. Hence each food establishment is required to
How many staff Do I need to train
train 40% of their staff before the end of year 2009 in
on EFST for the year 2009?
one of the three approved training companies where a
newspaper AD has included all their details

ADFCA does not encourage setting any new training dept

at the food establishment for the sole purpose of EFST
Is there any possibility to conduct
training. ADFCA has subcontracted such activity to three
in-house training within my food
qualified training providers/ companies who have high
premises?
degree of flexibility to accommodate private sector
specific needs

Food establishments can apply for “Equivalency” if they

have an already established training dept. and have
conducted in-house training for the last two years; in
such case, the food establishment can apply for
equivalence application (starting October 2008) to be
officially submitted to ADFCA at efst@adfca.ae, both
one hard copy and one soft copy for review.
The following documentation is required, as a
What are the requirements to minimum;
Apply for Equivalency - Introductory letter
- Company profile including number and type of
operating food outlets/activities
- Number and level of education for the staff (i.e.
Food handlers) that were subject to the in-house
training
- Executive summary on the in-house training with
high-level content matched with the EFST syllabus
breakdown stated in the EFST- protocol guide
issued by ADFCA (which can be found at
www.adfca.ae). The summary shall also contain

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 necessary information including date and period of
training, no. of employees per session, learning
means used by the trainer
- Copy of the actual training material in
English/Arabic that was instructed to the food
handlers (both in one Electronic and one hard copy)
and references used in developing the training
material
- Detailed Curriculum vitae/ resume of the in-
house/freelance trainer or the subcontracted
training company which conducted the in-house
training
- Copy of the handouts, if any, that were distributed
to the food handlers during the in-house training
- Any awareness programs or printouts that are used
for staff continuous education
A detailed review shall be conducted by the responsible
ADFCA team which may involve further clarifications
from your company. We envisage that the review
process may last for about 30 days. If ADFCA responded
with an approval on your application, The staff will be
required to undertake the post assessment in the ADFCA
approved Exam center and if they pass the required
minimum score, then they will be issued the (EFST)
certificate.

Are the following B.Sc or M.Sc.

degrees exempted from EFST?
1. Bachelor in Management
2. Bachelor of Science in
The exemption can only be considered if the field of
Elementary Education
study is related to food safety. Hence, the proposed
3. Bachelor of Science in
degrees listed will fall outside the scope of food safety
Information Technology
and will not be considered for EFST exemption purposes
4. Bachelor of Science in Education
5. Bachelor in Computer Science
6. Bachelor in Social Work
7. Bachelor of Marketing
10.Master in Management

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 Food handlers with a current higher-level food safety
qualification (Diploma, B.Sc. etc) can directly submit
their relevant syllabus content and a copy of the
associated Certificate Directly to the ESFT team for
approval. Approval will exempt candidates from both
training and assessment and an Essential Food Safety
Would graduate degrees in BS
Certificate will be directly issued for 50% of the exam
Food Technology , BS Biology,
fees.
Hotel and Restaurant
Management and Diploma in
Initially, the food establishment is required to send the
Food and Beverage Service, be
list of staff names and their detailed University
considered for exemption?
Transcripts along with an authenticated copy of the
Graduation certificate with the official letter to be sent
to ADFCA- EFST Coordinator- Mr. A. Hakim Jaberi. Once
the EFST team evaluates the papers, the approved
names shall be directly communicated via our EFST team
to the Exam Center.

This matter is still under discussion in ADFCA and will

need further study and review due to the audit and
Is there any possibility for ADFCA to
logistics obstacles that will be faced when opening the
consider certifying in-house trainers
floor for such requests. At the moment, ADFCA works
for the private sector
through recognized approved training providers that are
subject to extensive monitoring, reporting and audit
procedures to ensure project effectiveness.

How can the Food handler request A request will be submitted by the Food handler to
issue of EFST Certificate, in case it’s ADFCA where An authorization will be sent to the Exam
lost center to reissue the certificate with the original validity

Any complaint can be reported on the designated

complaint form and sent directly to EFST team in ADFCA
either directly by the complainer or through ADFCA
How can I submit a complaint
inspectors.
All complaints must be specific and report the exact
problem and date of occurrence

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 ADFCA strongly recommends that time between training
and examination does not exceed 30 days, as it remains
essential for the trainee to undertake the exam as soon
How much time is allowed between as possible to avoid any loss of information.
undertaking the training and Yet in case of inevitable delay, and on exceptional basis,
undergoing the Exam food business is required to provide list of the trained
staff and a justification statement why such delay
between training and exam has occurred, and ADFCA
team will study and advise accordingly

Any newly established food business will be required to

How would the percentage of EFST train and certify its food handlers in accordance with the
implementation affect the New approved & published percentages issued by ADFCA for
food businesses that year

Are Food handlers operating in

Due to the high turnover of food handlers and in the
retail and/or primary production
absence of provision of Food handlers profession, it
sector require to be Trained and
remain necessary to include all food handlers under the
certified on the same basis of food
same basic essential training program as they may
handlers operating within Catering
operate, in any moment within catering sector.
sector?

Would the Food handlers working All Food handlers, including subcontracted and seasonal
on Seasonal intervals or being workers are required to undergo the EFST program and
subcontracted, require to be trained get the required certificate
and certified under EFST?

Food handlers who failed the exam for the first time, can
retake the makeup exam for one more time and whoever
Are food handlers who have failed
fails after the second time, will need to undertake a
the EFST examination, undergo the
refreshment/revision session with the training provider
exam again
which we are arranging for to be available to the food
businesses
Abu Dhabi Emirate approach in designing and deploying
Is the food handlers training the Essential food safety training and certification
equivalent between Abu Dhabi and program (EFST) is not identical nor harmonized between
Dubai the two emirates as the EFST syllabus and knowledge
competency stated within the protocol is of higher level

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 than the basic food hygiene syllabus.
Hence Food handlers operating in the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi are required to undergo the EFST training program
as well as the examination to attain the certificate.
% of EFST training & certification for new food
businesses operating in Abu Dhabi shall follow the
following phases:
What is the percent of food Year1-20%
handlers training & certification Year2-40%
EFST for new businesses Year3-60%
Year4-80%
Year5-100%

EFST syllabus program and knowledge competencies

Some of our food handlers has exceeds that of the basic food hygiene and hence food
awarded the HACCP awareness and handlers are required to undergo EFST Training and
Basic & Intermediate Food Hygiene certification. As for staff that have already
certificate, is it necessary that they acquired intermediate, advanced food safety or HACCP
should go for EFST training as well training & certification, food business you may be able to
apply for Equivalency

EFST Exam protocol has been developed under the best

international educational practices. Initially, the pass
Is it possible to reduce the passing
score was set at 80%, yet ADFCA has decided to
score of EFST exam
undertake more flexible approach and has stated a 70%
as the acceptable Pass score.

Does EFST Exam include some easy EFST Exam questions where developed by Food safety
and direct questions to avoid some educators where 75-80% of the questions are addressed
uneducated staffs to get confused. to medium/average examinee, while the 15-20%
Also, most of the questions are remaining questions are intended for excelling
asking from the kitchen side and examinees. hence, the average food handler should be
are difficult for the stewarding and able to pass the exam if all knowledge competencies
service staff were properly digested and understood

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 UAE, as many other countries in the region, has No
designated food handler profession for workforce, where
the same labor may be in various domains within food
Is it necessary that the steward service sphere, both directly or indirectly involved in
staff should pass the EFS exam as food handing throughout the food chain, it remained
they are not food handlers essential to introduce EFST as a basic platform of
knowledge for All food handlers whether handling food
directly or indirectly

EFST protocol can be found at:

Where can I find more information
http://www.adfca.ae/english/Policyandlegislations/
related to EFST program
policies/Pages/default.aspx

All electronic correspondences can be done to email

EFST@adfca.ae
All other correspondences can be sent to:
How do I correspond with ESFT Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority
Team Director- Field Operations (Coordinator- EFST team)
Delma Street- Abu Dhabi
Booking of EFST exam should be done with:
Syscoms College
Abu Dhabi, UAE
How can I apply for EFST
Tel: 02-6760800
examination
Fax: 02-6760890
adfcaexam@syscomscollege.com

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