Registering food businesses

Information to help territorial authorities (TAs) perform their role as registration authorities. It includes template registration forms that TAs can adapt or use to register businesses under the new Food Act, the scope of operations document, a MAPS (Multiple Approvals Processing System) user guide and a form to apply for access to MAPS.

Registration authorities

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and all territorial authorities are registration authorities under the Food Act 2014. Their regulatory functions include the registration of:

  • food control plans (FCPs)
  • food businesses subject to a national programme.

Who does what?

Food control plans and national programmes are also known as risk-based measures. Table 1 outlines who will register businesses under each risk-based measure (RBMs).

Table 1
Risk-based measure Registration authority
Custom Food Control Plan MPI
Template Food Control Plan – single territorial authority region Relevant territorial authority
Section 39 template Food Control Plan – multiple territorial authority regions MPI or individual sites registered with the relevant territorial authorities (businesses choose which option works best for them)
Section 40 template Food Control Plan – single territorial authority region MPI
Section 40 template Food Control Plan – multiple territorial authority regions MPI
National Programme – single territorial authority region Relevant territorial authority
National Programme – multiple territorial authority regions MPI or individual sites registered with the relevant territorial authorities (businesses choose which option works best for them)

Find out more

Applications to extend the verification timeframe

A new template FCP or national programme business must be verified within 6 weeks. (This was extended from 4 weeks in July 2017). You can extend the verification by a further 6 weeks if:

  • you've received a written application (email is fine) from the business 2 weeks before the due date for verification
  • the business has provided a genuine and reasonable reason.

Examples of reasons are:

  • the business won’t be trading by the verification due date
  • unplanned, special circumstances make the verification impractical or impossible for the business or the verifier
  • the business couldn’t find an available verifier (despite making all reasonable efforts).

The decision is up to you. You must reply to the business at least 5 working days before the verification due date.

Tell us about the extension requests you approve

We introduced verification extension requests in July 2017. For the first 3 months of this new option, we'd like to hear from you about the requests you've approved and why. This will help us see if decisions are consistent around the country or if we need to provide further guidance.

Email information about your approved extensions to foodact.verification@mpi.govt.nz [PDF, 922 KB]

Registration data and MAPS

MPI expects that each territorial registration authority will use its own systems to manage their registration processes.

However, the Act requires MPI to maintain a public register of risk based measures. The public register will include details of all food control plan and national programme registrations in New Zealand.

Territorial authorities are responsible for transferring details of their registrations to MPI.

MPI has developed an online system which will hold all registered risk–based measures and enable territorial authorities to transfer their registration data. This system is known as MAPS (Multiple Approvals Processing System).

Login to MAPs

MAPS documents

Template registration forms

MPI has developed templates containing all the registration information required to be included in MAPS. Territorial authorities can use these templates or to develop their own registration forms that will provide at least the same information. Once you have adopted or adapted these forms, provide MPI with links to the registration forms on your council website, or a copy of the form you would like businesses to use to register with you.

Food control plans – documents suitable for commercial printing

If you want to print multiple versions of the March 2017 food control plan templates to give to food businesses, download the documents suitable for commercial printing.

Specialist sections

Registered food businesses

Register of food control plans and food businesses subject to a national programme

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