{"id":2082,"date":"2020-12-23T11:34:25","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T01:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nz.legalvision.com.au\/?p=2082"},"modified":"2025-12-09T14:31:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T01:31:11","slug":"food-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/regulatory-and-compliance\/food-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Safety Laws in New Zealand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New Zealand Food Safety is the primary government body responsible for managing food safety in New Zealand. Likewise, food safety standards are governed by the Food Act 2014<\/em>. This article offers some food for thought if you are thinking of starting a food business in New Zealand. It will also consider requirements for packaging and labelling<\/a>, and exporting food and drink outside of New Zealand. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Commercial Contracts Checklist<\/div>\n
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To protect your business, ensure supplier contracts meet your business\u2019 needs. Our free Commercial Contracts Checklist will help.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\nDownload Now<\/a> <\/section>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

Starting a Food Business<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are planning on starting a <\/span>new food business<\/span><\/a>, you must follow these steps: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. complete an onl<\/span>ine questionnaire about your business;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. based on your answers, New Zealand Food Safety will give you a food control plan to follow. Plans vary depending on w<\/span>hether you will be selling, transporting, importing or manufacturing.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. register your business, either with the <\/span>local council or the Ministry for<\/span> Primary Industries. This will depend on the type of business you run and where it is based. Your food control plan should help you confirm where to register your business; and<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. once your plan is in place, you should engage a verifier to check that you are selling safe food. Your plan should confirm who this person is. <\/span>Verifiers must be MPI-recognised, and the frequency of verification will depend on your risk-based measure, meaning high-risk operators may require more frequent visits than low-risk ones. You must also ensure you keep clear and accessible records to show the verifier that you are complying with your plan. This step is especially vital if you are selling high-risk food, such as seafood or raw meat, to ensure you do not pass on food poisoning to your consumers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Food Control Plan<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In certain circumstances, you do not need to get a food control plan. For example, you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n