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.
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.
National Programmes - New Zealand Food Safety
Fundraisers
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.
Registration, verification and fees