The Warenkeuring en Hygiëne (DWH) section of the Department of Public Health (DVG) regularly conducts hygiene and health certificate inspections on supermarkets and in the hotel/restaurant/catering (HoReCa) industries. This is to ensure quality food and also to protect the community from diseases that are transmitted from person to person through food or beverages. This is why everyone working with food and drink must have a valid health certificate when DWH personnel come for inspections.
For the food and beverage sector, this requirement is nothing new. DVG warns the public that those who do not comply with the law and allow employees to handle food or beverages for consumers without a valid health certificate could face a very troublesome situation when DWH comes for inspections. There is a high chance that the establishment could be closed and not reopen until employees have valid health certificates to do the job. So if the DWH inspection occurs on a Friday, for example, and the employees do not have their health certificates in order, the establishment could remain closed all weekend.
To prevent DWH from having to close businesses, DVG reminds all supermarkets and the food and beverage sector to comply with all hygiene rules and laws, including the requirement that everyone selling food and/or drink must have their health certificates in order.
Do not wait until DWH arrives at your establishment for an inspection to rush and get employees their health certificates. To apply for or renew a health certificate, there is a process that takes approximately 10 working days to complete. To avoid an undesirable situation when DWH personnel arrive at your doorstep, comply with the law.
