Food premises
General information
The Food Act 2014 (The Act) requires all businesses selling food to register, unless they fit into a small group of exemptions.
The Act is a risk-based system of food safety controls.
Find out the food safety rules you need to follow when making or selling food.
Which risk-based measure is your business?
Your business will be one of the following:
- Template Food Control Plan
- People who manufacture and prepare food.
- National Programme 3
- E.g. a dairy that scoops ice cream and bags lollies.
- National Programme 2
- E.g. a manufacturer of low-risk food (ice, sauces, spreads).
- National Programme 1
- E.g. coffee carts.
- Custom Food Control Plan
- You must register with Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), not Council.
All food sold or traded must be safe and suitable.
Please ensure your premises meets building and planning requirements before lodging your food registration application form.
Step 1. Apply
Complete the application form and scope of operations
Scope of Operation – Please only complete the Scope of Operations for the type of business you are operating:
- Scope of Operations for NP1 Businesses
- Scope of Operations for NP2 Businesses
- Scope of Operations for NP3 Businesses
- Scope of Operations for Template Food Control Plan Businesses
Payment of the application fee must accompany your application.
The application fees are as follows:
- Food Control Plan $310.00
- National Programme $250.00
Step 2. Your Registration Certificate
Once your application has been approved we will issue a Registration Certificate for your food business. This will be sent to you via email or post.
Step 3. Initial Verification
Within six weeks of registering your food business, an initial verification needs to be undertaken. If you have nominated Council as your verifier, we will contact you to arrange a suitable date to carry out the initial verification. If you have an independent verifier, please liaise with them for the initial verification.
To ensure food safety in the Far North District is of a high standard, Councils Food Verification Agency (FVA) is committed to providing high quality food verification services to customers with integrity, manaakitanga and professionalism and in accordance with the Food Act 2014; Food Regulations 2015 and any other relevant legislation. Here is a link to the Councils FVA “Quality Assurance Policy”.
After the verification has taken place you will be sent an invoice for the verification.
The fee for verification is as follows:
- Food Control Plan $542.50
- National Programme $387.50
National Programme businesses may choose either an independent verifier or Council's verifier to carry out an audit. Either way, you still need to register.
If you use an independent verifier, please ensure you provide a copy of your verification report.
Step 4. Registration Renewal
Food Control Plans are renewed annually, National Programmes are renewed every two years. We will send you an invoice to renew your registration which must be paid before your registration expiry date. Should your registration lapse, you will be required to re-register.
The fee for renewal is as follows:
- Food Control Plan $232.50
- National Programme $142.50
You will receive your renewed Registration Certificate once payment has been received.
Step 5. Future verifications
You can find out the due date for the next verification from your verifier or your verification report. You will be invoiced once the verification has been completed.
Step 6. Re-visits
If you require a re-visit, there may be extra fees. Fees include travel time and administration costs.
If your verifier finds problems, you will be verified more frequently.
Far North District Council
Attention: Environmental Health Services
Private Bag 752
Kaikohe 0440
Your application can be dropped off to any Council Office or Service Centre.
Your application can be sent via email to ask.us@fndc.govt.nz .
Food Control Plan
Before you start you will need:
- Completed Scope of Operations form.
- Copy of Company Extract (if applying in a company name).
- Site Plan of the business location.
- Floor Plan of the building.
NOTE: Once your application is submitted you will receive an invoice for payment.
Step 2.National Programme
Before you start you will need:
- Completed Scope of Operations form.
- Copy of Company Extract (if applying in a company name).
- Site Plan of the business location.
- Floor Plan of the building.
- Copy of a confirmation letter from the verifying agency (if not the Far North District Council).
NOTE: Once your application is submitted you will receive an invoice for payment.
If you are selling food to raise funds, or for charity, it must be safe and suitable. That means, it must be safe to eat - no one should get sick from eating your food.
Under the Act:
You don't have to register if you are selling food:
- To raise funds for charity, cultural or community groups less than 20 times per year provided by members of sports clubs, social clubs or maraes - where food is not the purpose of the event
- Once in a calendar year at an event such as a local fair.
You do have to register if you are:
- Fundraising more than 20 times per year
- Catering events at clubs, or selling food at club bars or restaurants
- Bartering or exchanging food commercially selling food commercially at fairs, markets, or community events more than once per year.
If you are making any structural changes to the existing building, you may require a Building Consent.
Please discuss this with a Building Officer by calling free phone 0800 920 029.
If you are not the property owner, you must get written consent from the person who owns the property. They must confirm that they have given permission for you to operate a food business from this premises.
If you have brought food in the Far North District and:
- You have found something in your food that should not be there.
- You believe it has made you sick.
- You believe it caused you to have an allergic reaction.
You can call us on 0800 920 029 to discuss your experience and make a complaint. Alternatively, you can contact the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) MPI Making a Food Complaint .
If you plan on making changes to your food business registration please notify Council by completing the "Notification of Significant Amendment Form" and emailing this to ask.us@fndc.govt.nz .