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Food premises

Opening a food premises | Registration | Change of ownership | Grading information for food premises | Food safety | Complaints about food premises | Food grading search


Registration

The food premises licensing period runs from 1 September to 31 August the following year.

All food premises are subject to regular inspections and must meet food hygiene standards. In order to obtain registration, at least one person working in your premises must hold a certificate in basic food safety.

Register a new premises

There are three options for registering a food premises.

1. Registration under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974

Your premises must comply with the requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. Regulations can be viewed online (www.legislation.govt.nz) or be purchased from:

Auckland University of Technology
Student Plaza, Gate 2
Wellesley Street
Auckland

You need to complete an application form for registration prior to opening. You can download and complete the Registration of food premises - application form (450k PDF) and send your registration form to Auckland Council.
Alternatively contact us to request an application form.

Applications forms should be submitted at least 25 days prior to your planned opening date. The application form must be submitted with the application fee of $159 (inclusive GST). Cheques can be made payable to: Auckland Council.

Your application will be allocated to an Environmental Health Officer, they will assess your application including conducting an inspection of the premises. They will make a decision on whether the application will be approved or declined.

On approval of the application you will be invoiced for the annual fee. Once your annual fee has been paid your food licence will be issued.

If we require you to carry out further works or require additional information such as confirmation that food handlers have been trained then we will put your application on hold. You will always be notified in writing of the outstanding requirements.

If a premises does not comply with the food hygiene regulations then we may choose to decline the application. We would advise you in writing of the reasons for doing so. The application is not refundable.

Contact us for more information on the structural requirements.

2. Registration of a template food safety programme

Food hygiene legislation is set change. The proposed changes will require food businesses to adopt a food control plan. The plan is a set of policies and procedures that help food business ensure that they food they produce is safe. To assist businesses the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) have developed a template food control plan. At the moment the food service sector plan is available and covers food businesses such as cafes, restaurants, takeaways and caterers.

Off the peg food controls are registered through council. For more information on the template food safety programmes, please contact us or email us at foodcontrolplans@aucklandcity.govt.nz.

3. Registration of a custom made food safety programme

Some businesses may wish to develop their own custom made food safety programme. This is a food safety programme that 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. Your programme needs to be evaluated by an approved food consultant before being submitted for approval to the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Custom made food controls are registered with the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. They can be contacted at:

NZFSA Approvals group
86 Jervois Quay
PO Box 2835, Wellington
Tel: 04 894 5200
Email: FSSI@MAF.govt.nz

Take over an existing premises

If you take over an existing premises, you must notify us and complete a registration form.

If there is an existing licence then you can apply to transfer this licence into your name. Transfer fee applications cost $80 (inclusive GST). Applications must be received within 14 days of you taking over the business. After this period, the licence lapses and can not be transferred.

If there is no current licence then a new licence needs to be applied for.

You can download and complete the Registration of food premises - application form (450k PDF) and send your registration form to Auckland Council.
Alternatively contact us to request an application form.

Renew your registration

Food premises licences expire on 31 August each year, you will receive a renewal application from us before this.

When you receive it, you must apply for renewal within 14 days of the expiry date by:

After this 14 days the licence can not be transferred or renewed and you will have to apply for a new licence at an additional cost of $159 (inclusive GST).

Include copies of all Food Hygiene Certificates with your application or, where your staff member has trained with Auckland City Council, record the certificate number on the application. The number of certificates held by a food premises will affect the registration fee for the following year.

Contact us if you require a replacement form.

Fees

The fee for renewing a Food premises licence will be included on the form. The fee will be based on the size of the premises, type of food operation and your current grade.

If you purchased the premises during the registration year, ie between 1 September and 31 August, you will have paid 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.

Refunds

We do not offer a refund on surrendered licences (eg if the business closes down).

Updated October 2011