Doha: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has initiated a new optional service allowing candidates to undertake the Food Handler Licensing Examination outside Qatar at accredited centers in multiple countries. This move aims to assist food establishments in enhancing operational efficiency while conserving time and resources during recruitment.
According to Qatar News Agency, this service launch is part of the Ministry's broader efforts to bolster the food safety framework and elevate the competency of workers in food establishments. The examination is available in both Arabic and English, offering detailed reports on each candidate's performance in various food safety domains. These insights enable food establishments to identify candidates' strengths and areas needing improvement, determine specific training requirements, and foster robust food safety practices.
Candidates passing the examination abroad can proceed with the necessary procedures to obtain a professional practice license without needing to retake the test in Qatar. While the examination outside Qatar is currently optional, the Ministry plans to make the professional practice license mandatory in the future, with details and implementation timelines to be announced in due course.
This initiative builds upon the existing Food Handler Licensing Program active in Qatar since 2021, which has successfully licensed 10,630 food handlers. Food establishments and workers interested in this service can visit the Ministry's website for more information on the program, the professional categories covered, registration procedures, and details of accredited examination centers outside Qatar.