Food Premises
Temporary Note
Important clarification regarding our recent correspondence about the removal of Rangitīkei District Council Food Grading Certificates.
Our previous communication to food business owners advised that, Council would no longer issue food grading certificates and requested that businesses remove their existing grading certificates from public display.
Following further review, we wish to clarify that the existing Council Bylaw relating to food grading remains in effect until it lapses in 2028. As a result, the current food grading requirements and criteria remain applicable until that time.
This means that, for now, there is no change to the existing food grading process. Food grading assessments will continue to be undertaken as usual, and grading certificates will continue to be issued in accordance with the current Bylaw.
If you have already removed your current grading certificate from display following our earlier correspondence, you may display it again. If your certificate has already been discarded or is no longer available, please contact us in writing and we will arrange for a replacement grading certificate to be reissued at no additional cost.
We apologise for any confusion or inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Council will provide further information to food businesses closer to the time when the current Food Grading Bylaw and associated grading requirements are due to lapse in 2028.
If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Team at licensing@rangitikei.govt.nz.
When starting a food business the following items need to considered.
- Type of food business
- Town planning requirements
- Plans
- Structural requirements
- Hygiene requirements
The food premise needs to be registered annually in accordance to the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. The registration year runs from 1st July to 30th June.
If your food premise is a restaurant, café or takeaway outlet, you can be exempt from the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 and adopt a Food Control Plan under the Food Act 2014. This is compulsory under the new Act which came into force on 1 March 2016. Please see our Food Act 2014 page for more details on this change.
The following links will be useful:
Registration for Food Business Application and see Schedule of fees and charges
MPI Annual Levy
When a new food business registers, the applicable MPI levy is payable at the time of registration, regardless of when during the levy year the registration occurs. Because the levy is set for the annual levy period rather than being calculated on a monthly basis, it is not pro-rated.
The annual levy charged by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) applies to all registered food businesses and covers the levy period from 1 July to 30 June each year.
While Rangitikei District Council administers food business registrations on behalf of MPI, the levy amount and payment requirements are determined by the Ministry under the relevant legislation and apply consistently to food businesses throughout New Zealand.
If you have any questions regarding the MPI levy, your registration, or the renewal process, please contact: licensing@rangitikei.govt.nz