WESTERN BUREAU — With a slight drop below last year’s number of licensed food handlers in the parish, chief public health inspector of the Hanover Health Department, Derrick Storer, is stressing the need for re-certification.

Eight less persons were licensed in the parish in the first four months of this year, as compared to the 125 licenced in the same period last year.

While acknowledging that the compliance levels have been good so far, Storer urged food handlers to renew their licenses, which are only valid for a year.

The food handling regulations were revised and became effective on September 1, 2000. Under the regulations, owners and operators of food handling establishments are required to be licensed by the Ministry of Health. This entails completing an application form, which is available at local public health departments.

General food establishments pay a $1,500 fee but that can go as high as $10,000 — mostly for large properties like hotels.

Storer pointed out that the economic climate might be a reason for the non-renewal of some licences.

“Things are hard,” he said. “People see it as a form of tax and people don’t readily pay taxes.”

Penalties for non-compliance include closure of the premises, as well as persons being charged and brought before the courts.

Applicants have to score 70 out of 100 points in order to be certified and criteria for certification include proper solid waste management, water supply, utensils, and food protection.

A licence is granted after a pre-test, which includes knowledge of food protection and is followed by a post-test which is a set series of questions.

However, Storer pointed out that even when one has a license, it could be revoked if upon an inspection, a person has cuts, lacerations, a cough, cold, dirty nails and fingers or other unhygienic manifestations.