All food handlers seeking certification for this year’s festival season are to have all medical tests completed.

Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mrs. Yolanda Penn said that exclusive clinics will be held at the Training Division’s Conference Room in the Betteto Frett Building on July 6, 20, 28 and 29 for food handlers participating in the festival activities.

According to the Chief, two sessions will be held on those dates, with the morning session beginning at 9:00 a.m. and the afternoon session beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Mrs. Penn said, “Visitors to the island that are in possession of current food handler certification are encouraged to attend a session. Those visitors that do not have any certification but desire to work during the festival time must have documentation from Immigration verifying work status.”

Regular Thursday food handlers’ sessions will also continue at the Quastisky Building at 8:30 a.m.

 Persons renewing their food handler’s certificates are required to bring their expired certificates, social security card, work permit and/or picture identification.

Persons seeking to obtain a food handler’s certificate for the first time are also required to produce the result of their Mantoux (skin) and stool tests, work permit and/or picture identification, social security card and one recent passport size photograph.

For further information, please contact the Environmental Health Division at telephone number 468-5110.

The Environmental Health Division is committed to ensuring that all aspects of the environment with the potential to negatively impact health are managed efficiently to enable all persons in the BVI to attain and maintain optimal health and social well-being.