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The Food Act 2014 came into effect in March 2016. It is aimed at promoting food safety by focusing on food production processes and to a lesser degree the physical food premises.
The new Act has a sliding scale where businesses that are higher risk, from a food safety point of view, 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).
Visit the Ministry for Primary Industries website and use the 'My Food Rules' tool to work out where your food activity or business fits within the new Food Act rules. By answering a series of questions you can find out what you need to do to comply with the Act.
What is a Food Control Plan?
A Food Control Plan is a step-by-step guide to food safety procedures that can be tailored to suit your business needs and includes pre-printed records, forms and a diary.
What is a National Programme?
Under the new Food Act 2014 some lower risk food businesses can operate under a National Programme level 3, 2 or 1. To find out which risk-based measure you need to operate under and for more information on National Programmes, visit the Ministry for Primary Industries website and use the 'My Food Rules' tool.
Rotorua Lakes Council does not provide a verification service for businesses on National Programmes. You will need to find a private verifier and arrange for them to complete a verification. You will need to specify who your verifier is when you register your business.
What happens after I register?
Once your registration has been approved, a Council officer (Ministry for Primary Industries approved) will come and verify your plan. Verifications will have three possible outcomes: Acceptable, Unacceptable or Non-compliance.
Depending on the outcome, the next verification date will be set. The officer will look at the plan and talk to you and your staff to gather evidence that you are following your plan and to check that you are preparing safe and suitable food consistently.
Where can I get a copy of a template for a Food Control Plan?
You can download Food Control Plan templates from the Ministry for Primary Industries website.
If you cannot download the template, a copy can be provided by Council upon request.
Find out more
For more information on the changes, visit the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website.
If you have any questions or concerns about your business, contact the council's Licensing team on 07 348 4199 or email compliance.admin@rotorualc.nz