Create a custom food control plan

Create your plan by building on a base template or starting from scratch.

You can use the "My Food Rules" tool to get a base template.

My Food Rules

Any parts of the base template you use, don't need to be independently evaluated later.

You only need to write additional sections for processes that are not covered by the base template, or where you prefer to do things differently.

How to write additional sections for your plan

In your custom plan, you need to show how you manage food safety and that you have basic procedures in place for things like:

• cleaning
• staff training
• equipment maintenance.

Your plan must also identify the things specific to your business that could put food safety at risk. You will:

• detail the ingredients and processes you use to make your food
• identify the key things that could affect the safety of your food (we call these hazards)
• show what you do to control the hazards throughout the manufacturing or production process.

Download our guide to help develop your custom food control plan [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Identify food safety hazards specific to your business

To identify the food safety hazards that are specific to your business, draw a process flow diagram showing:

• the ingredients you use
• the step-by-step process you use to make your product – this could include transporting, storing, washing, cooking, and packaging.

Look up each ingredient on MPI's hazard database to see what food safety hazards MPI has identified for those ingredients. Hazards include things like:

• germs and bacteria
• chemicals
• material like glass, metal, and plastic that could contaminate food.

Find your ingredients on MPI's hazard database

Examine every hazard

You need to work out what happens for each hazard at each step of the manufacturing or production process for that ingredient – for example, if any bacteria will grow or reduce at that step. Also think about whether new hazards could enter at any stage.

Work out how you will control each hazard

Once you have identified the hazards, you need to work out how you are going to control them, so that the food you produce is safe. MPI has some hazard data sheets which give information on how to control common hazards.

Hazard data sheets

Record your control plan

Write up your control plan for each hazard. Write down:

• the checks you need to do to make sure that the controls are working
• the person who will do the checks
• when the checks will be done

Once you have created your new sections, you must have them independently evaluated. The evaluation will check that the sections you create are likely to produce safe and suitable food if you follow them.

You must include a report from your evaluator with your application for registration.

Find an evaluator

Arrange for a verifier to check your business. Your verifier must be different from your evaluator.

What is verification?

Verifiers visit your business to check you are following good food safety processes. Verifiers could be from your local council or an independent agency.

Learn more about getting your food business verified

Find a verifier before you register

Find a verifier and ask them for confirmation that they will verify your business. Include this in your registration application.

You can find a verifier on our registers.

Find a verifier

Next steps

• Contact the verifier to check if they can do your verification within your timeframe (3 months for a new business or 6 months for an existing business) 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.
• Your first verification will happen after you are registered.

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 can often share travel costs between businesses in the same area. Check this with the verifier.

Our guide has information on how long a typical verification takes and how much it is likely to cost.

How long does verification take? [PDF, 258 KB]

You must register your custom food control plan with MPI, and renew your registration each year.

To register with MPI, you will need to include:

• a completed registration form
• a copy of your completed custom food control plan – including site plans for every address you operate from
• a report from an evaluator endorsing your custom food control plan (see Step 2)
• a letter from a verifier (auditor) to say that they will verify you (see Step 3)
• a completed scope of operations form specific to your type of business
• address details for all the places where you make or sell food (record these on the registration form or use our template spreadsheet for multi-site addresses)
• a copy of the Companies Act registration certificates for any parts of your business that are limited liability companies.

You also have to pay for registering your business. The application fee is detailed on the registration form.

Complete the scope of operations form

You'll need to tell us exactly what your business does by filling out a scope of operations form.

The form includes:

• 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.

On the form, choose the sections that apply to your business and tick boxes for all the things that you do.

Download the scope of operations form [PDF, 511 KB]

Complete the registration form

Download the MPI registration form [PDF, 349 KB]

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

Send completed documentation

Once you have all the documents needed to register with MPI, you can email your application to approvals@mpi.govt.nz

Or post to:
Approvals Operations
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

After you've registered, the verifier you've chosen will visit to check you are following your food control plan effectively and keeping all the records you need. They will give feedback on areas that need improvement.

Timeframe for checks

If you are a new business, your verifier must visit within 3 months of registering. If you are an existing business, your verifier must visit within 6 months of registering. MPI will notify your verifier when your food control plan is registered.

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 or unplanned happens that means your business can't be verified

You need to apply in writing to your registration authority 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 often verification is needed

How often you are verified depends on:

• the complexity of your food processes
• the types of food you sell
• how well you manage food safety.

Verification may be needed as often as every 3 months to once every 18 months.