Food handlers’ permit, usually valid for one year, is being extended to two years, effective January 1, 2026.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, who made the announcement, says the move forms part of the Environmental Health Unit’s overhaul of the National Food Handlers’ Training and Certification Programme.

In addition to extending the permit term, bill payment and bank transfer options will be introduced next year. The overhaul is expected to increase the cadre of professionally trained food handlers, thereby reducing the risk of outbreaks linked to improper food handling.

Addressing this week’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Dr Tufton said the move will benefit the more than 300,000 Jamaicans who apply for and renew permits annually.

“People wait quite long, sometimes half a year, for a 12-month permit. It’s highly inefficient and it’s quite frustrating to entrepreneurs, many of whom are small business operators—the bar owner, the jerk stand man,” Tufton said.

Dr Tufton pointed to inefficiencies in the system, which also affect larger players in the food production and fast food industry. According to the minister, “We will implement a bi-modal modular training format to reduce the certification processing time from three weeks to two weeks, and introduce new technology to facilitate faster and more efficient processing to eliminate delays and backlogs.” 

He added that application access points will be introduced to reduce wait times and improve service delivery.