Food Business Registrations
When starting a food business or taking over an existing one, there's a lot you need to know.
It's important you are aware of the legal requirements and standards involved with registering and operating your food business.
Under the food laws most food businesses need to obtain a registration certificate before trading.
Under the Food Act 2014, food businesses and providers need to meet different requirements depending on what they do and the level of food safety risk involved.
To see what rules apply to your business here.
Key contacts before you get started:
Our advice is ensure you check out the feasibility and legalities of your proposal with the relevant Council departments:
- In the first instance, please contact our Customer Services team with your enquiry.
- Resource consent planning - for District Plan and RMA information about setting up a business at your chosen site
- Building consent - for information about new buildings or making renovations to an existing building, fire safety requirements etc.
- Environmental Health Officers for advice about food safety and registration, and the sale of alcohol.
- Regulatory Services for advice about outdoor dining
When purchasing a new building or business it is recommended you obtain a Land Information Memorandum (LIM). This is a report on what the Council know about the land and buildings at your chosen site.
Please note before a food registration certificate can be issued, you'll need to ensure you have obtained all necessary consents and approvals e.g. Resource Consent (under the RMA), or Certificate of Compliance or a Code Compliance Certificate or Certificate of Public Use (under the Building Act) etc.
For more information visit the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) New Zealand Food Safety | Haumaru Kai Aotearoa website here.
Scope of Operations
What does ‘Scope of Operations’ mean? The term ‘Scope of Operations’ is used to describe the activities of your food business and also includes:
- the sector(s) a food business operates under the Food Act 2014
- what products a food business makes and/or sells
- how products are sourced and/or supplied
- how products are processed, if applicable, and
- how products are sold.
Why do I need to complete a ‘Scope of Operations’?
If you are operating a food business you need to tell Thames-Coromandel District Council exactly what your business does. One way to do this is by filling out the ‘Scope of Operations’ cards. You need to complete the ‘Scope of Operations’ before you register. If you decide to do this by filling out the ‘Scope of Operations’ cards, make sure you include your completed ‘Scope of Operations’ cards with your application form.
Businesses that are exempt from registration are defined in section 31 and Schedule 3 of the Food Act 2014. You can view these exemptions here.
What do I need to do?
You can do this by completing the appropriate ‘Scope of Operations’ cards for your business and submitting them with your application for registration to Thames-Coromandel District Council. Scope and application forms are available in the download section on the right panel of this page.
Send applications to customer.service@tcdc.govt.nz.