Food Licensing

Licensing under the Food Act 2014

The Food Act 2014 came into effect in March 2016. It aims to promote food safety by focusing on food production processes and, to a lesser degree, the physical food premises.

The Act has a risk-based approach where businesses that are higher risk will operate under more strict food safety requirements than lower risk food businesses.

Depending on the type of business you have, you may:

need to operate under a Food Control Plan,
need to operate under a National Programme or
be exempt (i.e. not need to operate under a plan or a programme).

Use the 'My Food Rules' tool (mpi.govt.nz) to determine what you may need. As a general guide, food manufacturers, restaurants, cafés, takeaways, dairies, grocery stores and similar food businesses will need to register.

If you operate across multiple districts, you may choose to register with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). If you are required to hold a Custom Food Control Plan, you have to register with MPI.

"My Food Rules" tool - mpi.govt.nz

Registering a food business

If you need to register with Council, please complete the application form below (single or multi-site) and the relevant Scope of Operation form.

Once you have completed this, please contact us on 07 348 4199 to arrange an appointment with a licensing officer.

Download form to register a food business (single) - (PDF, 169KB)

Download form to register a food business (multi-site) - (PDF, 160KB)

What happens after you register

If your registration is approved, a Council Verifier will come and verify your plan and inspect the premises. Verifications will have three possible outcomes:

Acceptable
Unacceptable
Non-complying.

Depending on the outcome, the next verification date will be set. Businesses with good compliance history are inspected less frequently than businesses with repeat non-compliances. Serious non-compliances or a history of unacceptable outcomes may result in enforcement action being taken.

Taking over an existing food business

Food Control Plans and National Programmes are non-transferable. When a new owner takes over an existing food business, they will need to apply for either a new Food Control Plan or National Programme.

Registration exemptions

Certain activities and businesses are exempt from having to register. Examples include:

Fundraising up to twenty times a year
Once-a-year operations (such as at a Christmas Parade)
Some accommodation providers
Some clubs and organisations where the sale of food is not the primary activity.

Read more about who is exempt from registering on the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website.

Exemptions from the Food Act - mpi.govt.nz

Mobile shops, food trucks and market stalls

If you intend to sell food from a non-fixed location such as a food truck or market stall, you will likely need an additional licence under the General Bylaw 2017. Read more about licensing for these types of food businesses in the Bylaw Licensing section.