Proposed changes to the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Scotland) Regulations 2013

In June 2023, the UK signed a Recognition of Professional Qualifications (RPQ) Agreement with Switzerland. The Agreement allows people who gained a professional qualification in one country to work in the other (subject to immigration rules), without having to fully requalify and places an obligation on the UK and Switzerland to put in place necessary measures and require its ‘relevant authorities’ to operate on RPQ system.

As part of this obligation our intention is to amend the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 to accommodate the recognition of qualifications from Switzerland, which will come into force on 1st January 2025.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) propose to use powers under Section 3 of the Professional Qualifications Act 2022 (the Act) to do this.

The proposed amendment is relevant for the professional qualification of “Food Examiner”. No changes are proposed in relation to the Public Analyst qualification at this time given its specificity in domestic law and the exemption under the Agreement that exists in relation to certain types of qualification for which an international equivalent may not exist.

FSS intend to future proof the regulations by including provision for further RPQ agreements the UK may enter into, without the need for further amending the regulations. 

Our view is that this requirement is unlikely to affect the delivery of food examiner services.

Should you have any questions or comments on this proposal please send to Rachael.Hay@fss.scot by 14th October 2024.