If you want to sell food in the Horowhenua, there are rules you need to follow.
The Food Act 2014 requires food businesses to register and operate under a risk-based measure. There are three types of food businesses based on risk-based measures, they are:
Template Food Control Plan
A Template Food Control plan sets out the steps you need to take to make food that is safe to eat.
Businesses making or selling higher-risk food are more likely to register under a food control plan.
Template Food Control Plans built from templates provided by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).
For more information about Template Food Control Plans, and to access the forms and templates developed by MPI for food business to use; visit the MPI website.
Custom Food Control Plan
Custom food control plans are for higher-risk businesses. If you need to run a custom food control plan, you'll need to register directly with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) instead of with us.
Visit the MPI website for information about Custom food control plans.
National Programme (1, 2 & 3)
A National Programme sets out the steps food businesses need to follow, to make food that is safe to eat.
Businesses making or selling lower-risk food are more likely to register under a national programme.
There are three levels of national programmes, which are based on the food safety risk of the activities a business does:
- Level 1 – lower risk
- Level 2 – medium risk
- Level 3 – higher risk.
National programmes do not use templates, but you must keep some records to demonstrate that the food you make is safe.
For more information on national programmes, check out the MPI website.
To work out which risk-based measure applies to you and your business, use MPI's 'My food rules' tool found on their Thinking of starting a food business page.
If your food business is operating a Template Food Control Plan, or a National Programme you will need to register with us.
To complete your application, you'll need:
- The relevant registration fee - you'll find this information on our Environmental Health - Fees and Charges page
- A letter from your verification agency if you will be operating a National Programme
- A copy of the site plan for each site that will be registered
- A copy of your certificate of incorporation if your business is a registered company
- A completed Scope of Operations Template form (available below)
- A completed Application for Registration of Food Business form (available below).
Forms
Scope of Operations Template form(PDF, 570KB)
Application for Registration of Food Business form(PDF, 223KB)
If you are thinking of opening a food business, you may need to consult with other areas in Council in addition to sorting your food registration needs. Planning
Contact Council’s Duty Planner to ensure that you can set up a food business in your chosen area. The zoning of some areas exclude commercial activity and you may need to apply for Resource Consent to operate in some areas. The Duty Planner can also tell you if there are any parking or other planning requirements in your area.
Planning
To check if you can set up a food business in your chosen area, contact Council’s Duty Planner. The zoning of some areas in the Horowhenua exclude commercial activity. This could mean that you may need to apply for Resource Consent to operate in some areas. The Duty Planner can also tell you if there are any parking or other planning requirements in your area.
Building
If you are building a new premises or making alterations to an existing premises, you may require a building consent. Council’s Consents Team will be able to offer advice as to whether the work you intend to do requires a building consent. They will also be able provide advice on public toilet requirements for your premises; anddepending on the type and volume of food you are preparing, you may also require a grease trap to comply with Council’s Trade Waste Bylaw.
You can view more information about Building Consents on our Building Consents & Information section.
Alcohol Licensing
If you want to sell alcohol on your premises or have customers bring their own alcohol for consumption on the premises while dining, you will need to apply for the appropriate licence under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
It is recommended that any application for an alcohol licence is made as early as possible as issuing licences takes time.
Find more information about how to apply for an alcohol licence for your premises on our Alcohol Licensing page.