South Carolina Regulation 61-25 requires every Charleston food service establishment to have a Certified Food Protection Manager on staff. SC does not mandate a separate food handler card for line cooks beyond manager certification.
SCDHEC Regulation 61-25 (the South Carolina Retail Food Establishment Regulation) adopts the FDA Food Code's requirement that each permitted establishment in Charleston employ a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) holding ANSI-accredited certification (ServSafe, Prometric, or equivalent). Unlike states such as California or Illinois with broad food handler card mandates, South Carolina does not require individual non-manager food handlers to hold a card; managers carry the training and supervisory responsibility. CFPM certificates are valid five years and must be available on-site for DHEC inspectors.
Operating without a CFPM on staff is a critical violation under SC Reg 61-25 and may trigger reinspection, point deductions, or temporary permit suspension by DHEC.
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See how Charleston's food handler certification rules stack up against other locations.
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