Food

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Food Certificate of Registration

Registration of food premises are required to help maintain safe and healthy food premises. It is an offence to operate a food premises prior to the issue of a certificate of registration. Regular checks will take place to ensure food safety standards remain in place and that structural requirements are being maintained.

Registering a food premises for the first time

There are two options for registering a food premises:

Registration under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974
Your premises must comply with the structural requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. You are required to complete an application form for registering a new food premises prior to opening. Forms are available here or from council offices.

Food premises registration form (Three pages 440KB PDF)
Health and food registration fees (One page 33KB PDF)

Registration of a Food Safety Programme
Once a Food Safety Programme (FSP) is registered, your premise is automatically exempt from the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. A registered FSP is based on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system.

The principles of HACCP can be used as a tool to write your Food Safety Programme. It is a documented system which identifies food safety hazards within your premises and details procedures to control these hazards.

If you do not have an approved FSP in place when opening your food premise, you will need to comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974.

If you choose to register an HACCP based Food Safety Programme you will receive an exemption from the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. For information about registering an HACCP based Food Safety Programme contact Taranaki Health (06-753 7798).

Renewing your registration

You must renew your food licence every year. The registration period runs from 1 July to 30 June. If you currently hold a Food Premises Licence you automatically be sent a renewal application form to renew your registration for another year.Return to top

Fees 2008/2009

New high risk food premise $699
New low risk food premise $430
Premises not requiring registration – annual inspection $430
Transfer of licence $62
Re-inspection fee $133

The fee for renewing a food premises licence will be included on your renewal of registration application form.
If you purchased the premises during the registration year, i.e. between 1 July and 30 June, you will have to pay a transfer fee. You will still be required to pay the annual licence fee as the transfer fee only covers the transfer of the licence from one owner to the next.

Change of ownership

If you purchase an existing food premises you will need to transfer the registration into your name. A fee applies. The transfer must be completed within 14 days of the purchase of the premises for the registration to remain valid.

Do I need a licence for a charity or fundraising event?

No. Charity or fundraising events like a school gala day or sausage sizzle do not require a food licence, however standard food hygiene requirements apply.

What are the requirements for a major event where food will be sold?

Major events like festivals require a written request to the council’s environmental health team with details of the event. The request must be received at least four weeks before the event.

Do I need a licence for a farmers market?

Generally yes. Contact us for more information.