Food hygiene certificate in Edinburgh
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Short answer
You can take our Level 2 food hygiene course online from anywhere in Edinburgh and get your certificate the same day, for £12 per person. Food handlers do not have to hold a food hygiene certificate.[1] The food business must make sure its food handlers are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene in line with their work.[2]
Who inspects food businesses in Edinburgh?
Food hygiene inspections in Edinburgh are carried out by the environmental health (food safety) team of City of Edinburgh Council.
- The City of Edinburgh Council says you must by law register with it 28 days before opening.[3]
- There is no charge for registration.[3]
- After registration the council carries out regular visits to your premises to ensure they comply with food safety legislation.[3]
Which food hygiene rating applies in Edinburgh?
Scotland uses the Food Hygiene Information Scheme instead of 0 to 5 ratings: a business gets a Pass if it meets the legal requirements for food hygiene, or Improvement Required if it does not.[4][5] Businesses get a certificate or sticker to display, some choose not to display it, and Food Standards Scotland publishes every result online.[5]
The FSA's open data lists 5,163 food businesses for City of Edinburgh Council.[6]
Do food handlers in Edinburgh need a food hygiene certificate?
No certificate is required by law, but training is. The business must make sure each person who handles food is supervised and instructed or trained for the work they do, and be able to show it. A certificate and a training record are the simplest way to show this at an inspection. Read our UK training guide for the full rules.
How do you register a new food business in Edinburgh?
Scottish councils such as the City of Edinburgh Council and Aberdeen City Council ask new food businesses to register with the council 28 days before opening.[3][7] In Edinburgh, you register with City of Edinburgh Council.
What does the course cover for Scotland?
The UK version of the course covers Scotland's differences: the Food Hygiene Information Scheme, CookSafe and the 82°C legal minimum for reheating food.
The course has seven short modules with a quiz after each one, then a 30-question final exam (pass mark 21) with free retakes. The PDF certificate has a QR code so an employer or inspector can check it online. It confirms completion of training; it is not a regulated qualification.
How much does a food hygiene certificate cost in Edinburgh?
£12 per person (£10 + VAT per person). Team packs for Edinburgh cafés, restaurants and kitchens: 10 learners £95, 25 learners £225, 50 learners £400 + VAT, with a manager dashboard and training records.
Other places in Scotland
See every council in Scotland or all UK locations.
Sources
- Running a food business: Staff training, illness and hygiene (GOV.UK, updated 30 January 2025)
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII (Training) (legislation.gov.uk, revised version, last amended 31 December 2020)
- Register a food business (City of Edinburgh Council, checked 21 October 2026)
- Food Hygiene Information Scheme: information for businesses (Food Standards Scotland, no date shown)
- About the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (Food Standards Scotland, no date shown)
- Food hygiene rating scheme open data (Food Standards Agency, data file dated 21 October 2026)
- Register your food business (Aberdeen City Council, no date shown)
Train your staff in 2–3 hours
Our Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2 course has seven short modules, a final exam and an instant certificate with QR verification.