Change your custom food control plan
If your food business changes, you may need to change your custom food control plan (FCP). Find out about the different change categories and what you need to do.
Why you may need to change your custom FCP
Food businesses that change what they do, may need to change their custom food control plans (FCPs). Sometimes the changes need significant amendments to a plan. Those amendments may need to evaluated and registered. Examples are:
- if you start using new processes or making types of food that are not covered by your plan
- if your business changes ownership or shuts down.
We categorise the changes based on risk
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has 4 change categories. These are based on food safety risks. The categories are:
- significant amendments that require evaluation
- significant amendments – no evaluation needed
- minor amendments
- changes that must be notified.
Check the details for each category and what you need to do
AN EXAMPLE OF A CUSTOM FCP CHANGE
What category to use if you're changing a business address
Let’s say you want to change the address of your food business. You want to relocate your manufacturing operation to a new site or address. That would be considered a significant amendment requiring evaluation or an interview. That's because the change poses higher food safety risks.
But it would be different if you were wanting to change the address of your retail shop. Your retail shop is not a manufacturing location. Because the change poses minimal food safety risks, it does not need an evaluation or an interview.
Who to contact
If you have any questions or are unsure, email MPI.approvals@mpi.govt.nz
Custom FCP amendment categories
About this category
Significant amendments are changes considered to have higher levels of food safety risks. These changes require you to update your custom food control plan FCP. Your updated plan will then have to be evaluated. Sometimes we'll need to do an evaluation in person at your premises. If you have a My Food Plan custom FCP, an MPI staff member will interview you.
After your evaluation or interview, submit the change to MPI for approval.
How to get your FCP changes evaluated and approved
Changes in this category
Change of address
Relocation of manufacturing/processing operations to a new site or address (except where this is already permitted for mobile businesses).
Adding a new location
- Adding a new site for manufacturing/processing operations.
- Changing a single-site FCP to a multi-site FCP.
Altering a location
- New building/construction on existing site where this is not a duplication of an existing operation or facility.
- Construction on a new site.
- Changing the use of a room from a lower standard to a higher standard. For example, support facility to a process room, raw to cooked, or becoming part of a critical hygiene area, except where the FCP already contains buildings or facilities of a similar higher standard.
Change to product intended use*
- Where the processing of a ready-to-eat product is to occur and the FCP does not cover this.
- Adding in vulnerable populations as intended consumers.
Adding a critical control point (CCP)*
For example, using a new type of process such as drying (not currently covered under the FCP).
Removal of a critical control point*
Removing a CCP that is a pathogen kill step.
Change in critical control point*
Changing a CCP that is a pathogen kill step.
Change to product shelf-life*
Extending the 'use-by' date (to state that food should not be consumed after the use-by date for safety reasons.)
New business owner or a change of ownership
Owner/operator business (for example, a suburban takeaway shop) changes hands, resulting in a change of staff and day-to-day manager and others. Note: You don't need to get this evaluated if you have a standard custom FCP.
Altering your process or equipment*
- Where a less severe preservation step is proposed. For example, reduction in cooking temperatures, higher water activity for a dried product.
- New processing equipment that is essential for food safety, unless new equipment duplicates existing equipment.
Change to a sector/product*
Where new product fits under a new sector, and the sector change involves:
- adding an FCP level sector to an FCP; or
- adding a higher-level sector – for example, adding an FCP level sector to a National Programme business.
How to get your changes evaluated and approved
The steps for evaluation and approval differ depending on whether you have a My Food Plan or a standard custom food control plan FCP.
My Food Plan
Go through the My Food Rules online tool to get your updated My Food Plan. Then follow the instructions.
Note, the changes listed with an asterisk (*) may not require any new cards to be added to your plan.
Standard custom FCP
- Update your custom FCP
- Get the plan evaluated. (Note, the changes listed with an asterisk (*) may not need onsite evaluations).
- Download and complete the FA11FCP form (Change to an FCP)
- FA11FCP [PDF, 557 KB]
- Email your updated custom FCP, evaluation report, any associated documents, and completed FA11FCP form to MPI.approvals@mpi.govt.nz
About this category
These changes are considered significant amendments but may not require an interview or evaluation. You may be required to have a verification audit within 6 weeks of the change being approved by MPI.
How to get your changes approved
Changes in this category
Change of address
Relocating a non-manufacturing operation (such as food service, distribution, or retailing) to a new physical address (except where this is already permitted for mobile businesses).
Altering a location
- An increase or reduction in an FCP boundary that introduces new hazards or affects processes.
- Removal of building/facilities that prevents essential processes from being carried out. For example, removal of a blast freezer if a blast freezer is required.
Change to product intended use
Changing from retail sale to wholesale.
Change to product formulation
New formulation/ingredients that will introduce new hazards or affect processes.
How to get your changes approved
If you are making any of the changes listed in this category:
- Download and complete the FA11FCP form (Change to an FCP)
- FA11FCP [PDF, 557 KB]
- Email your updated plan and completed FA11FCP form to MPI.approvals@mpi.govt.nz
The approval process is the same whether you are operating under a My Food Plan or a standard custom FCP.
Note, you'll likely have to make sure that verification occurs within 6 weeks of the change being approved. This will depend on the specifics of the change and the level of risk.
About this category
Changes in this category are considered to have a lower level of food safety risks. These changes are likely to require you to update your plan but do not require an evaluation or a My Food Plan interview.
How to get your changes approved
List of changes in this category
Change of address
Council-driven change (re-numbering of a road).
Adding a new location
- Removing a location from a multi-site registration.
- Constructing a new storage facility where the FCP already includes storage.
Removal of buildings/facilities/equipment
Removal of redundant or disused facilities, buildings, or equipment.
Building alterations
Construction in non-processing areas (such as amenities or support facilities) providing it doesn't change them to a higher standard of use.
Change of FCP boundary
An increase or reduction in an FCP boundary that does not introduce new hazards and/or affect processes.
Altering your process or equipment
Altering a process but still achieving the critical product parameter – for example, altering a drying process but still achieving the approved water activity parameter.
Change to product intended use
- Removing vulnerable populations as intended consumers.
- Changing from wholesale to retail only.
Change to product shelf-life
Extending a ‘best before' date.
Change to product formulation
- Making a new flavour in an existing line of products.
- New formulation or ingredients that will not introduce new hazards or affect processes.
Removal of a critical control point (CCP)
Removing a CCP that is actually a control point (CP) and had been incorrectly designated a CCP.
How to get your changes approved
If you are making any of the changes listed in this category:
- Download and complete the FA11FCP form (Change to an FCP)
- FA11FCP [PDF, 2 MB]
- Email your updated plan and completed FA11FCP form to MPI.approvals@mpi.govt.nz
The approval process is the same whether you are operating under a My Food Plan or a standard custom FCP.
About this category
Changes in this category require notification. These changes are considered to be administrative or have very low food safety risks. When making these changes you must contact MPI.
How to get your changes approved
List of changes in this category
- Business changes hands with no change to staff or procedures – for example, an existing fast food restaurant branch is sold to a new franchisee.
- New day-to-day manager.
- New operator name.
- Additional operator to a multi-business FCP.
- New contact details (email/phone/postal).
- Change of verification agency.
- Voluntary suspension of operations.
How to get your changes approved
If you are making any of the changes listed in this category:
- Download and complete the FA11FCP form (Change to an FCP)
- FA11FCP [PDF, 2 MB]
- Email your updated plan and completed FA11FCP form to MPI.approvals@mpi.govt.nz
The approval process is the same whether you are operating under a My Food Plan or a standard custom FCP.