Opening a food business
The Food Act 2014
The Food Act 2014 came into force on 1 March 2016. The Act applies to all new food businesses.
New food safety measures
The Act brings in the following new food safety measures:
Food Control Plans
A food control plan sets out the steps a business making or selling higher-risk foods needs to take to make safe food. It is used to identify food safety risks, and to show how they're being managed. Further information on FCPs can be found on the Ministry of Primary Industries website (MPI).
National Programmes
A national programme is the way that lower-risk food businesses operate under the Food Act 2014. Further information on National Programmes can found on the MPI website.
Verification of Food Control Plans or National Programmes
Your business will need to be verified (audited) when you first register it. For information on the frequency of subsequent verifications required for food businesses, please contact an Environmental Health Officer at the Hastings District Council.
Please note:
Currently Council is not providing a verification service for businesses on National Programmes. Therefore you will need to find a private auditor and arrange to have verification's from them. You will need to specify who your auditor is when you register your business. Visit the MPI Auditor list here.
Where does your business fit in the new food regime?
To help you find out what food safety measure your business needs to operate under, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) have developed a “where do I fit tool?”.
Businesses currently operating under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974
Existing businesses will transition from the old Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 over the next 3 years. Some food businesses such as restaurants holding an alcohol licence must transition during the first year.
At the end of the three-year transition period the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 will be revoked.
Opening a new food business
A pamphlet on opening a new food business in the Hastings District can be downloaded. See related document below.
Registering your business
An application form for a Food Control Plan or National Programme is available from the Customer Services Centre in Lyndon Road.
The form should be completed, signed and then forwarded back to Council with the registration fee. See related document to download.
Contact
Contact the Environmental Health team at the Council.
