Steps for National Programme 1

National Programme 1 is for low-risk food businesses. This includes those:

• making and selling hot drinks
• growing or packing produce (for example, farmers, orchardists)
• extracting and packing honey
• making sugar or products like syrup
• transporting or distributing food
• selling pre-packaged ice cream as well as other pre-packaged food that doesn't need to be kept cold or frozen (known as shelf-stable foods).

If you do any food activities other than those listed, you might need to operate under a different national programme or a food control plan.

MPI has developed a tool—My food rules—to help you work out which plan or programme applies to you.

My food rules

Still unsure?

If you complete the tool but are still unsure what to do, you can:

• email info@mpi.govt.nz
• contact your local council.

Council contact list – Department of Internal Affairs website

To bring your business under National Programme 1 you need to:

• check what you need to do to make safe food
• be prepared to tell an official (a food safety verifier) how you make safe food
• keep some written records to show what you do about important food safety issues.

We've developed guidance for making safe food and keeping records. Use our tool to get personalised guidance for your business type.

My food rules

What is verification?

Verifiers are professionals who will visit your business to check you are selling safe and suitable food. They could be from your local council or an independent agency.

Find a verifier before you register

Before you register, you need to choose a verifier. Ask them for confirmation that they will verify your business and include this in your registration application.

Arrange a verifier

You can find a verifier on our registers. Make sure they verify NP1 businesses.

Check this list of verifiers to see who is able to verify your business

Next steps:

• Contact the verifier to check if they can do your verification within your timeframe and ask how much they will charge.
• It's a good idea to ask for quotes from more than one verifier.
• When you have chosen who you want, ask them for a letter to confirm they will verify you.
• Include the letter with your application to get registered.

When to get verified

Your first verification happens after you are registered.

If you are a new business, you must arrange for your verifier to visit within 6 weeks of becoming registered. If you are an existing business, your verifier must visit within a year of your registration.

Apply to extend your verification timeframe

In some circumstances, new businesses can apply to extend the date when their verification is due.
You can apply if:

• you haven’t already started trading by the due date for verification
• something major and unplanned happens, which means you or your business can’t be verified.

You need to email or write to your registration authority (either your council or MPI), 2 weeks before verification is due.

The verification date may be extended by up to 6 weeks. The registration authority must either grant or decline your request at least 5 working days before verification is due.

How much will verification cost?

Councils and independent verifiers set their own fees. Prices range from $115 to $210 an hour plus travel fees. The time it takes to verify you will depend on the complexity of your business and how well you are managing food safety.

Verifiers are often able to share travel costs between businesses in the same area. Check this with the verifier.

Check this guide to find out more about verifications and likely costs [PDF, 258 KB]

Help to find a verifier

If you are unable to find a verifier from the map or lists, or the price quotes seem unreasonable, email info@mpi.govt.nz

Registering with your council

You must register as a food business with your local council if your business:

• is based in one council district
• is a mobile business (such as a market stall or a food truck) or an online business – in which case you must register with the local council where your business is based (for example, where you live).

To register with your council you will need to:

• get a letter from a verifier or auditor to say that they will verify you (see Step 3)
• contact your local council and ask for a registration form
• complete any other requirements set by the council
• complete a scope of operations form
• return all documents to your local council.

Download the scope of operations form [PDF, 424 KB]

Registering with MPI

If you operate from fixed places (shops or packing houses) in more than one council area, you have a choice.

You can either:

• register each place separately with each local council
• register them all with MPI.

To register your multi-site business with MPI you will need:

• a letter from a verifier or auditor to say that they will verify you (see Step 3)
• a copy of the Companies Act registration certificates for any parts of your business that are limited liability companies
• a completed registration form
• to pay to register your business – the application fee is detailed on the registration form
• a completed scope of operation form specific to your type of business.

On the registration form include:

• address details for all the places where you make or sell food.
• if you're registering with MPI then you must be operating a food business from more than one address. Include each address on your registration form, or you can use our template spreadsheet for multi-site addresses.
• this form is only for businesses registering with MPI. If you're registering with your council, contact them for a different registration form.

Download the MPI registration form [PDF, 401 KB]

Download the template spreadsheet for multi-site addresses [XLSX, 12 KB]

On the scope of operations form include:

• a description of exactly what your business does
• the Food Act sectors you operate in – for example, retail, food service, manufacturing
• your products – the type of food you make or sell
• processes – how you make your food, for example, is it reheated, fermented, or sterilised?
• trading operations – how and where you sell your products
• the sections that apply to your business and tick boxes for all the things that you do.

Download the scope of operations form [PDF, 424 KB]

To register with MPI send your completed forms and application to:

• approvals@mpi.govt.nz
• or post to:
  Food Act registrations
  Ministry for Primary Industries
  PO Box 2526
  Wellington 6140
  New Zealand.

Arrange a verifier visit

Contact your verifier (see Step 3) and arrange a time for them to verify your business.

Timeframe for checks

If you are a new business, your verifier must visit 6 weeks after registration and the maximum extension is another 6 weeks. If you are an existing business, your verifier must visit within a year of registering.

Frequency of visits

How often you are checked will depend on how successfully you are managing food safety. If there are no problems, you may only need to be verified once.

What a verifier does

The verifier will check you are making safe food and keeping records. They will give feedback on areas that need improvement.