Winnipeg Food Safety Regulations

Restaurants and food service establishments in Winnipeg must adhere to both the Manitoba provincial food safety regulations and city-specific bylaws governing safe food handling. Failure to comply comes with heavy penalties including fines and closure so it’s crucial that all Winnipeg food service businesses are familiar with their legal obligations.

Winnipeg food safety bylaw 

Food safety in Winnipeg falls under the City of Winnipeg’s Foodservice Establishment By-law, which was created in 1989 and updated in 2022.

The bylaw covers:

• Permits needed by food establishments
• Food handler certification
• Food storage 
• Food preparation
• Food display and service
• Food transportation
• Employee hygiene
• Equipment and facilities
• Enforcement and penalties for non-compliance

All food service businesses need a permit from the Public Health Inspector to operate. Before these are issued, the Inspector will visit the premises to ensure the establishment is complying with the by-law. Once granted, permits are renewed annually and can be suspended or withheld if the Inspector determines that the business is in violation of the by-law. Permits have to be displayed in a ‘conspicuous location’ in the establishment.

Food handlers certificate winnipeg

The Food Service Establishment By-law is very clear on when a food handler certificate is required for Winnipeg businesses, stating:

• Anyone operating a food service establishment must have an approved food handler certificate
• If businesses have more than five employees on duty at any given time, they must ensure there’s someone with a valid food handler certificate on the premises during operating hours
• Food handler certificates have to be displayed in a prominent place 

Food safety enforcement and penalties 

The Public Health Inspector has the power to enter any Winnipeg restaurant or food service business if they suspect they’ve violated the city by-law. 

If they find something amiss, they can issue a ‘deficiency order’ - giving the business a chance to correct their mistake within a certain timeframe. Authorities can compel restaurants to close until they satisfy requirements and these closures and convictions are publicly available on the province’s website. 

For more serious violations, the penalties range from a minimum fine of $100 for a first offence, to at least $400 for a third strike. Non-compliance with the by-law can also lead to criminal charges and imprisonment for up to 6 months along with fines ranging between $1,000 - $5,000.

Getting your winnipeg food handlers certificate

Don’t risk closures, fines, or imprisonment, make sure your business is staying compliant and has all the food handler certifications your staff needs. FoodSafetyMarket is an approved private contractor associated with the Manitoba Certified Food Handler Training Program so you can be sure you’re ticking all the boxes when you complete our online food handler certification course, Managing Food Safety.

This expert-led food safety training course doesn’t just meet the requirements laid out by the Winnipeg Food Service Establishment By-law, it’s also tailormade for busy teams - offering convenient and accessible training on your schedule. 

Available in multiple languages including French, Punjabi and Chinese, Managing Food Safety is packed with the information your staff needs to know, displayed in engaging visuals and relatable case studies. The course can be hosted by our secure platform, or delivered directly from your company’s Learning Management Platform, complete with your own branding and resources.

Our courses are developed by experts and made to help students succeed. With a 98% pass rate, we offer the most effective way to train your team and ensure compliance with national, provincial, and municipal food safety regulations. Contact our team today to find out more about our training solutions for businesses and individual food handlers.