Food Premises - Registration

This page explains the requirement for food premises to be registered under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974.

All food premises must be registered or have an approved Food Safety Programme

Premises used for the manufacture, preparation, storage and/or sale of food must either be registered with Council or have a current Food Safety Programme (FSP) approved by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.

Markets i.e., the Saturday Morning Market and other markets, street and other food stalls and occasional food sellers require a Food Stall Licence.

If you do not register your premises, you do not have an approved Food Safety Programme or you fail to renew your annual registration your registration will lapse and you may be liable for prosecution in the District Court.

Your food Registration Certificate must be clearly displayed on your food premises for public viewing.

The term "food" and "food premises" are defined by legislation

Food is anything that is or may be used or represented as food or drinks for human consumption and includes any ingredient, nutrient or constituent whether prepared or in its natural state that is intended to be mixed with any food or drink.

Food premises are any permanent or temporary building, structure, kiosk, stall, mobile shop, vehicle, caravan, trailer, marquee or ship on or at which food is manufactured, prepared, packed, stored or sold.

Examples include premises used:

  • For the retail sale of cakes, sandwiches, pizzas or bakers' small goods.
  • As an eating-house i.e., cafe, restaurant, coffee bar.
  • For the retail sale of meat, fish or delicatessen items.
  • For the retail sale of fruit or vegetables.
  • As a supermarket, grocery or dairy.
  • For the sale of milk, ice cream or frozen confections.
  • For the operation of a food vending machines.
  • As an auction mart where food is handled for sale.
  • As a service station where food is sold.

Register food premises with Council

To register your premises with Porirua City Council, print off the form Application – Registration of Premises from our Health Forms page, complete it and submit it to Council’s Customer Services Centre along with the application fee.

Your annual registration fee will be set against your premises risk assessment.

A Food Safety Programme is an alternative to registration

Instead of registering your premises with Council, you may operate them under a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) based Food Safety Programme (FSP) approved by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.

FSP premises operate in accordance with the approved FSP and approval conditions. Council is not involved in this programme.

To obtain FSP approval, you must prepare a full written plan detailing how you will ensure food stored, prepared or sold on or from your premises will be safe for human consumption and then submit it the for New Zealand Food Safety Authority approval.

You may prepare your plan yourself or have a qualified consultant do it for you.

If you already operate a registered business, you must continue to meet the registration requirements until you have your FSP approval.

When you receive your New Zealand Food Safety Authority FSP approval, you must supply Council with full details of it so that your registration can be cancelled.

Whether premises are registered or have a Food Safety Plan they must be hygiene standards compliant at all times.

There are FSP establishment and audit costs. Discuss these with your consultant. No fee is payable to Council in respect of an FSP.

Registration must be renewed annually

Registration is renewable by 1 September in each year.

Council will mail out a renewal form and invoice for the registration renewal fee prior to that date. Note: If you do not receive a this notice before 31st August contact Council’s Customer Services Centre to avoid later problems.

Complete the renewal form and send it with the payment slip and your cheque to Council's Customer Services Centre. Upon receipt of the payment your Certificate of Hygiene or Certificate of Registration will be mailed out to you.

Links to more food premises information

Legislation:

Porirua City Council links:

External websites: