Food Stalls and Mobile Food Vendors

The sale of food is regulated by the Food Act 2014

("Food") includes drinks, fruits and vegetables, ice and anything that is intended to be consumed by people.

If a business sells food, then they need to apply for a Certificate of Registration.

If trading from private land, you need to contact the Duty Planner.

If trading from a reserve, you need to apply for a Commercial Operators licence through Parks and Reserves.

If you are a Mobile Trader and trading at an event or a market, you need prior permission from the organisers.

For all types of food stalls the food provided for sale must be "safe and suitable". That means it must be safe to eat - no one should get sick from eating your food. Click here for basic food safety information.

You don't need to register under the Act If you want to sell food:

• to raise funds for a charity, cultural or community group (less that 20 times a year)
• provided by members of sports clubs, social clubs or marae - where food is not the purpose of the event
• once in a calendar year at an event such as a local fair

However, you will have to register under the Act if you are:

• fundraising more than 20 times a year
• catering events at clubs, or selling food at club bars or restaurants
• bartering or exchanging food commercially
• selling food commercially at fairs, markets, or community events more than once a year

For more information about selling food from stalls see here.

Food sellers wanting to trade at an event must hold a valid registration certificate or be exempt from needing to register (as above).

Event organisers are responsible for checking their invited food sellers have a valid registration certificate or are exempt from needing to register, and should supply these details to the Environmental Health Team before the event.

Information for Event Organisers