Opening a food business
Getting the recipe right in the food business is a challenging task. If you are establishing your own food business, do not hesitate to contact one of the Hastings District Council's Environmental Health officers (06 871 5000).
They are here to assist you with any information relating to your new food business venture, as well as building consent applications for new buildings and alterations.
- Download a food premises application form (105 KB)
- Download our guide to opening food premises (158 KB)
Registering Your Business
If you are considering opening a food business in the Hastings District, you will need to apply for a Food Premise Licence with the Council.
Your application for registration as a food premises should consist of:
- A completed Application for a Food Premises Licence form (also contains a handy guide with information you should know)
- Plans and specifications as outlined. Your
set of scale plans should comprise of a layout plan of
your premises showing the following details:
- all rooms and their designations. Areas may also be designated, for example dishwashing area; vegetable preparation area, etc
- position of all services, appliances and fittings, such as preparation benches, shelving, cupboards, wash-hand basins, dishwashing machine, cooking appliances, refrigerator and freezer units, extract ventilation hoods
- position of incidental features such as yard areas, refuse storage area, staff and patrons toilets and staff changing areas
In some cases you may need the help of a design consultant with previous experience in the development of a food premises. Go to the Yellowpages website for contact details.
Specifications
Specifications should cover proposed construction materials,
colours and finishes. Specification items can either be included
on the plan or in a separate specifications sheet.
The information contained in the plans and specifications
should be sufficient to enable an Environmental Health Officer
to check that the proposed premises complies with the appropriate
Regulations or Codes. It is also useful to indicate the type
of menu that is envisaged as this may influence the kitchen
design.
It is important in the establishment of new premises to ensure
that there will be sufficient space. The numbers of staff
will have to be determined in order to calculate space requirements.
It must be able to accommodate provision of a Grease Trap
and Extract Ventilation over cooking equipment if required
and allow sufficient space for the hygienic operation of
the premises.
Please note: Plans and specifications submitted for
a building consent, may be used for the purpose of a food
Premises Licence.
Registration and Beyond
Final Inspection
Following application for registration and nearer
the date of completion and proposed opening, an Environmental
Health Officer must be contacted to complete a final inspection of your premises.
If work requiring a building consent was carried out, then
a Code Compliance Certificate must be obtained before
the Certificate of Registration can be issued.
If the final inspection reveals that the premises is set
up correctly (in accordance with the approved plans and comply
with the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974), then the premises
can be approved and the Certificate of Registration issued
following payment of the registration fee.
It is an offence to operate the premises prior to the issue
of a Certificate of Registration.
Once the premises is registered then periodic inspections
will be carried out to ensure that conduct, food safety and
structural requirements are being observed.
Your registration must be renewed every year.
Change of Ownership
If your business changes ownership, an application must be
made to the Council for transfer of the Certificate of Registration
to the new owner within 14 days of the change of ownership.
If you are considering the purchase of an existing food business
you should check with the Council to see if the premises have
a current Certificate of Registration and if it is subject
to any requisitions. In order to obtain full detail of the
requisitions you (or your solicitor) will need to seek written
approval from the vendor (or the vendors solicitor).
Contact
Contact the Environmental Health team on resource@hdc.govt.nz or phone 06 871 5000.
