The Ministry of Health and Social Development, through the Environmental Health Division, has encouraged individuals who plan on handling food during the 2025 Emancipation Festival to obtain a food handler's certificate. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

The Environmental Health Division will hold food handler certification sessions in June and July 2025 ahead of this year’s Emancipation Festival. Photo: Internet Source

The certification must be obtained ahead of the festival, and the Environmental Health Division is making preparations to deal with the influx of individuals. 

Weekly courses in June & July

According to a press release from the ministry, the division will offer weekly food handler courses this month, June and in July, and Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer, Ms. Henrietta Alexander, said persons should take advantage of this availability. 

“We want to remind the public that all food handlers are required to be certified in order to operate during August festivities,” Ms. Alexander said, adding, “The sessions will be available both in-person and virtually to provide flexibility and convenience for attendees.”

The schedule for the rest of June and July is as follows:

• June 24th at 5:00 p.m. ESHS
• July 1st at 9:00 a.m. Virtual
• July 15th at 5:00 p.m. ESHS
• July 22nd at 9:00 a.m. Virtual
• July 29th at 5:00 p.m. ESHS

Mrs Alexander also informed that additional sessions will not be conducted outside of the schedule and encouraged individuals to attend early and avoid last-minute challenges in obtaining certification. 

Environmental Health Division is committed to food safety- Mrs Alexander

Mrs Alexander acknowledged that the festival is a time of celebration, culture and community. The division, she said, is therefore steadfast in its commitment to prioritising food safety and ensuring food vendors have convenient and accessible opportunities to become certified.

“It is imperative that business owners and managers ensure that all individuals involved in food handling obtain the necessary certification to avoid any disruption to their business operations.” 

Meanwhile, booth owners are also reminded to visit the Environmental Health Division to collect temporary vending registration forms as soon as possible. 

Registration links for the sessions are available on the Environmental Health Division BVI’s Facebook page.

For more information, individuals are urged to contact the Environmental Health Division via phone (284) 468-5110 or via email ehd@gov.vg.