How and Where to get a Food Handler's Permit in Jamaica

by S. Jeffery

Are you thinking of taking your passion for preparing food to the next level? Persons who possess great culinary skills and want to start their own restaurant or cook shop or wish to find a job in a food establishment (bakery, restaurant, etc) must have a Food Handler's Permit.

Below is what you will need to take with you to apply for the permit and where to go and get it in each parish. This is the second article in the blog series "How to in Jamaica".

How and where to get a Food Handler's Permit in Jamaica:

New applicants should bring with them two (2) passport sized pictures which can be stamped and signed by a Justice of the Peace, Minister of Religion or a Superintendent of Police. You will be required to pay $500 Jamaican dollars for the cost of the permit and given an application form to fill out. You will also be required to attend a Food Handlers Clinic where you will be taught the rudiments of food safety.

After completing the classes you will be tested. If successful, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to receive your card, in the mean time you can request a letter to show that you have applied for the permit. Students involved in Food Preparation while doing the courses, are also required to apply for a Food Handler's Permit. The cost for them is $300 Jamaican dollars.

New Delopments
The Food Handlers' Permit project undertaken through funding from the National Health Fund, will modify the current system by replacing the paper cards with PVC 'ID Style" Cards. As some of the processes involved in delivering this service will be automated, the new system will offer benefits of greater efficiency, more durable card for clients, and reduced turnaround time.

How do I renew my Permit?

After the expiration of your permit (after a year), take the old permit along with you and complete the following steps:

• Complete Application Form
• Pay Application Fee ($500 Jamaican dollars)
• Attend Food Handler's Clinic
• Sit and pass Food Handler's Test (given at end of Clinic)


Yes, both new and renewal clients have to sit through the food handlers clinic which will be conducted by a public health Inspector, just think of it as a refresher course. Please keep in mind that it is possible that your card will not be returned immediately, so it imperative that you always have your receipt.

Jamaica Food Handlers Clinics Schedule

There are four regional health authorities that oversee the health and medical issues of the country. These are the:

SERHA - South Eastern Regional Health Authority

WRHA - Western Regional Health Authority

Southern Regional Health Authority

North Eastern Regional Health Authority

These authorities are directly in charge of the various parish departments and implement policy that is passed down from the Ministry of Health. Listed below is information of where and when you can go to do the foods handler's clinics so you can receive the permit. I was only able to find detailed information for some of the parishes. Also some of this information may be a bit outdated (unfortunately government websites aren't always updated regularly). However I have listed the phone numbers of each health department and centre so you can make contact to verify, and receive more information. All the best to you guys!

South Eastern Regional Heath Authority

Parish of Kingston and St. Andrew Health Centres

KSA (Kingston and St Andrew Health Department): Every day of the Month. For more information please call 876-926-1550. It's located at 1A Caledonia Crescent, Kingston 5.

Parish of St Catherine Health Centres

St. Catherine Health Services

Burke Road

Spanish Town:

1st Wednesday, 3rd Tuesday and 4th Wednesday in every month. NB: its three sessions per day 8:30 am, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Tel. (876) 907 5483 (Not sure if this is still the case, please use the phone number to confirm)

Greater Portmore: 1st, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month.

Bogwalk: 2nd Tuesday in every month.

Linstead: 1st Monday in every month.

Sligoville: 2nd Tuesday in every quarter. For more information you can call the health centre at 876 602-3356.

Kitson Town: 2nd Wednesday in every two month.

Parish of St Thomas Health Centres

Morant Bay Health Department: Every Wednesday in the month for new person. NB: Persons who are renewing would attend the health centre in their area on Tuesday and Thursday.
For more information on the specific date in the specific areas please call (876) 982-1619, 703 6182 (not sure if these times still apply, please contact health Department to confirm).

You may contact the Regional Authority at: (876) 754 3439

Western Regional Health Authority

Parish of Westmoreland Health Centres

Darliston: 3rd Tuesdays of each month 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m.

Savanna-la-mar: 1st Wednesday of each month 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m.

Grange Hill: 1st Tuesday at 9:00 am and 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 2nd Tuesdays at 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Negril: 4th Tuesdays 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 1st Thursdays 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

White House: 1st Tuesdays 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm and 3rd Tuesdays 9:00 am to 12:00 pm each month.

(Not sure if these times still apply, please contact Health Department to confirm)

For more details contact the Westmoreland Health Department at (876) 955 2308

Parish of Hanover Health Centres

Lucea: 1st Thursdays 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. 3rd Tuesdays 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Itinerant vendors 2nd week of July annually.

Sandy Bay: 2nd Tuesday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm in every month.

Hopewell: 3rd Mondays 8:30 am to 12:00 pm

Ramble: 1st Wednesdays 8:30 am to 12:00 pm in every Month.

Green Island: 1st Tuesday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. 4th Wednesdays 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm in every month.

For further details contact the Hanover Health Department at (876) 956 2731/2604

Parish of St James Health Centres

Mount Salem Health Centre: Every Tuesday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Maroon Town: 3rd Thursdays of every month 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.

Cambridge: 3rd Tuesdays of every month 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.

For more info you can contact the St. James Health Dept. at (876) 979 7820-4

Parish of Trelawny Health Centres

Trelawny Health Department: Every Wednesday 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

Dewars Health Centre (Duncans) 2nd Thursdays 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, 4th Thursdays 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Albert Town: 1st Mondays of each month 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. 2nd Mondays 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

For more info contact Trelawny Health Department at (876) 954 4904/3689

Southern Regional Health Authority

Parish of St Elizabeth Health Centres

Black River: 2nd Monday and 2nd Wednesday of every month.

Southfield: 3rd Monday in every month.

Junction: 2nd and 3rd Tuesday in every month, two sessions for the day 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. N: B all classes are done by appointment.

Newell: 4th Monday in every month, two sessions for the day 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Santa Cruz: 1st Wednesday of every month for renewal and 3rd Tuesday at 9:00 am for everyone.

Maggoty: 3rd Thursday of every month.

Balaclava: 1st Monday of every month.

(Not sure if these times still apply, please contact Health Department to confirm)

Please contact the St. Elizabeth Health Department at High Street, Black River at (876) 965 9174-5

Parish of Clarendon Health Centres

Milk River: 4th Thursday of every month

Race Course: every quarter in every month,

you will have to visit the health to get the exact

day in the quarter.

Raymond: 1st Wednesday of every month.

May Pen: Every Thursday in every month except

on 5th Thursday.

Chapelton: 3rd Wednesday in every month.

Kellits: 4th Thursday in every month.

Spalding: 2nd Wednesday in every month.

Crost-Hill: 2nd Wednesday of every month.

(Not sure if these times still apply, contact Health Department to confirm)

Contact Clarendon Health Dept. 1 Brooks Avenue, May Pen (876) 986 4548

Parish of Manchester Health Centres

BelleField: 1st Thursday in every month.
Porus: 1st Tuesday in every month.

(Please contact Regional Health Authority to confirm schedules, etc.)

Please contact the regional health authority for the details:

Southern Regional Health Authority,

3 Brumalia Road, Mandeville, Manchester

Tel: 1-876-625-2110 | 618-1714-5

Fax: 1-876-962-8233

Email: pr@srha.gov.jm

        North Eastern Regional Health Authority

Parish of St Mary Health Centres

Highgate: 1st Thursday of every month, call (876) 992 - 2882

Annotto Bay: 3rd Thursday of every month, call (876) 996 2034

Oracabessa: 2nd Mondays in every month, (876) 726 1625

Port Maria: 4th Wednesday in every month, (876) 994-2330

Gayle: (876) 975 8054

Parish of Portland Health Centres

Buff Bay Community Hospital: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month and for every quarter restaurant and catering. (876) 996-1478

Hope Bay: 1st Thursday of every month (876) 913 0678

Portland Health Department: 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.

Manchioneal Health Centre: 4th Tuesday of every month (876) 993 6323

Fair Prospect: 2nd Thursday of every month, (876) 913-1427

Parish of St Ann Health Centres

Ocho Rios: 1st and 3rd Monday and Tuesday of every month.

St Anns Bay: 2nd and 4th Monday and Tuesday of every month. Moneague: 3rd Wednesday of every month. First timer at 9:00 am and persons renewing at 1:00 pm.
Alexanderia: 3rd Wednesday of every month. First timer at 9:00 am and persons renewing at 1:00 pm.
Browns Town: 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month. N.B. all classes are done by appointment, classes begin at 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Unfortunately guys this is all the information I could find. I recommend you call these health centres or make contact with NERHA (North Eastern Regional Health Authority to get more details, Ocean Village Shopping Centre, Ocho Rios, (876) 795 3107