Find out your public health responsibilities when preparing and selling food as a commercial or mobile trader in Whakatane District.
Food Hygiene Regulations
The Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 cover the safe and hygienic preparation, manufacture, and handling of food for sale. The Regulations set out the physical requirements and safe food practices for food premises.
Get the full Regulations at any bookshop or view them on the Brookers website (opens in a new window).
Registered Food Premises
Food regulations require anyone storing, selling and preparing food for sale, to do so from registered food premises. A certificate will be approved and issued only when the premises comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 and other relevant acts.
Food Administration By-law
The by-law requires all business owners of food premises, and/or members of staff with supervisory roles to hold New Zealand Qualifications Authority approved certificates in food safety or similar.
This requirement is a prerequisite towards a food premises obtaining its Certificate of Registration and is aimed at improving the standard of food handling practices.
If the owner doesn’t hold suitable qualifications they must appoint a manager who does.
Fees and Charges
Fees and charges are set out in the Council’s Annual Plan. Currently there are three categories of food premises' registration fees:
- Food Premises - most food premises in the Whakatane District fall into this category.
- Simple Food Premises - simple foods include pre-packaged food that is a low risk to public health, such as biscuits, confectionery and frozen confections. Pre-packaged, readily perishable food that needs heating is not classified as low risk.
- Ancillary Use Food Premises – these are registered food premises used for the preparation of food for sale by more than one party/business. In these cases, the main user or primary occupier pays the registration fee and the secondary occupier pays an ancillary fee to the Council.
New Registered Food Premises
We’ve put together information explaining the application and legislative requirements involved in establishing and operating new food premises. Pick up a copy from the Council or download below:
Establishing New Registered Food Premises - (PDF, 84Kb)
Food Premises Application Form - (PDF, 80Kb)
Food Premises-Ancillary Use Form - (PDF, 77Kb)
Simple Food Premises Application Form - (PDF, 71Kb)
Mechanical Extraction Ventilation Guidelines - (PDF, 136Kb)
To find out about buying/selling registered premises go to our Registered Premises page.
Transferring Registration to a New Owner
If someone else is taking over your business, they will need a new Certificate of Registration. To get one, complete an Application for Transfer form - (PDF, 86Kb) and return it to the Council’s Environmental Health team.
You’ll also need to pay the transfer of ownership fee. We will then issue a new certificate showing the new details, which will be valid until the original registration period expires.
If the new owner proposes to make structural alterations to the premises or significant changes in the nature of the operation, this may change the premises’ 'category' or type. Alterations may also require a building consent and/or resource consent. It pays to check your obligations with our Building and Planning team.
For further information on taking over existing food premises, please contact our Environmental Health Officer via Customer Services by email or phone on 07 306 0500.