Procedure descriptions
Apply for infection control training, including a certificate
Infectious diseases can be transmitted to other people via food.
If your work involves coming into contact with food or cleaning items such as crockery, the risk of transmission via this route must be minimised.
You therefore need a certificate from the public health authority confirming that you have attended a training session on this risk.
The same applies if you
- regularly spend time in the kitchens of restaurants or
- other communal catering facilities.
Note: This certificate replaces the previous health certificates issued under the Federal Epidemic Act. If you already hold a health certificate, you do not need to attend any training session. The old certificates remain valid.
Simplified training
For volunteers at club festivals and similar events, it is sufficient to read the information sheet on preventing foodborne infections and to have understood its contents.
Forms/Online Services
- Erstbelehrung nach dem Infektionsschutzgesetz online absolvieren
- Termin für Infektionsschutzbelehrung vereinbaren
- Termin für Zweitschrift Infektionsschutzbelehrung vereinbaren
Responsible authority
the Public Health Authority
The Public Health Authority is,
- if you live in Stuttgart, Mannheim or Heilbronn: the relevant city council
- otherwise, the district administration.
Details
Prerequisite
- In your work, for example, you come into contact with the following foodstuffs:
- Meat, poultry and products made from them
- Milk and milk-based products
- Fish, crustaceans or molluscs and products derived from them
- Egg products
- Infant and weaning foods
- Ice cream and semi-finished ice cream products
- Baked goods
- Delicatessen, raw vegetable and potato salads
- Sprouts and seedlings
‘Coming into contact’ means direct contact with the hand or contact via objects such as crockery or cutlery. - Or you work in the kitchens of pubs, restaurants, canteens, cafés or other establishments providing communal catering.
Anyone can obtain the certificate upon application. However, the Public Health Authority will not issue the certificate if there are indications that a person is suffering from a disease listed in Section 42(1) of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG).
Procedure
To complete the briefing, you must either book an appointment at your local public health authority for an ‘in-person briefing’, or – provided your public health authority offers this option – take advantage of the opportunity to complete the briefing online (‘online briefing’). Following the training – whether in person or online – you must declare in writing that you are not aware of any circumstances that would warrant a ban on practising.
You will then receive a certificate of attendance.
If there is a suspicion that you may not be able to receive the certificate – for example, due to an illness or an infection that can be transmitted through food – you will only receive the certificate once a doctor has ruled out the suspected illness or infection following an examination.
The certificate states that you have been informed of your legal obligations, in particular regarding which infectious diseases would prohibit you from working in the food sector.
Deadlines
You may only commence work in the fields of food preparation, food sales or catering once you have received the certificate. When you first take up the role, this certificate must not be more than three months old.
Your employer must also brief you on the restrictions on work and your obligations once you have started work, and must do so again every two years thereafter. The certificate and the most recent record of the briefing must be kept by your employer.
Required documents
Identity card or passport
If there is a suspicion that you currently have an illness or infection that can be transmitted through food, you will also need a medical certificate confirming that transmission of the pathogen or the illness can be ruled out (Section 43(1) of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG)).
In the case of persons who lack legal capacity or have limited legal capacity, as well as applicants who are minors, an informal declaration from the person with parental responsibility or the legal guardian is required, confirming that they are aware of the applicable obligations (Sections 42 and 43 of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG)).
Costs
The fees are based on the fee schedules of the respective city or district authorities.
- For face-to-face instruction: Please enquire about the costs involved when booking an appointment. These may vary depending on the city or district. Furthermore, different fees may apply depending on the purpose of the instruction. You should expect to pay around EUR 35.00. In some cities and districts, the fees for school pupils, university students and apprentices may be slightly lower.
- For online instruction: Fees may vary depending on the relevant public health authority and the purpose of the instruction. These will be displayed in the online application and paid via online payment. Here too, you should expect to pay around 35.00 EUR. In some cities and districts, the fees for school pupils, university students and apprentices may be slightly lower.
Miscellaneous
You can find the contact details for the relevant public health authority here
Detailed information
- bei Online-Belehrung: Service-Konto auf www.service-bw.de, sowie elektronischer Personalausweis oder digitale Kopie des Personalausweises/Reisepasses (in bmp-, jpg-, png-, tif- oder tiff-Format)
- Robert Koch Institut: Belehrungsbögen gemäß § 34 IfSG und § 43 IfSG
- Merkblatt zur Vermeidung von Lebensmittelinfektionen (PDF)
- Formularvorlagen des Robert-Koch-Instituts in mehreren Sprachen
Legal basis
Gesetz zur Verhütung und Bekämpfung von Infektionskrankheiten beim Menschen (Infektionsschutzgesetz - (IfSG):
- § 42 Tätigkeits- und Beschäftigungsverbote
- § 43 Belehrung, Bescheinigung des Gesundheitsamtes
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 19.10.2026