National Programme 3 sets the food safety rules for medium-risk businesses. Follow the steps to comply with the law and sell food that won't make people sick.
To bring your business under National Programme 3 you need to:
Confirm if National Programme 3 is right for you.
National Programme 3 is for medium-risk food businesses. This includes:
It also applies to manufacturers of:
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.
If you complete the tool but are still unsure what to do, you can:
Council contact list – Department of Internal Affairs website
Follow good food safety practices and keep some written records of what you do.
To bring your business under National Programme 3 you need to:
We've developed guidance for making safe food and keeping records. Use our tool to get personalised guidance for your business type.
Arrange for a verifier to check your business.
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.
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.
You can also find a verifier on our registers.
Next steps:
If you are a new business, your verifier must visit within 6 weeks of registering. If you are an existing business, your verifier must visit within 6 months of registering.
In some circumstances, new businesses can apply to extend the date when their verification is due.
You can apply if:
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.
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
If you are unable to find a verifier from the map or lists, or the price quotes seem unreasonable, email info@mpi.govt.nz
You must register with your local council or MPI, and renew your registration every 2 years.
You must register as a food business with your local council if your business:
Download the scope of operations form [PDF, 355 KB]
If you operate from fixed places (shops or packing houses) in more than one council area, you have a choice.
You can either:
Download the MPI registration form [PDF, 401 KB]
Download the template spreadsheet for multi-site addresses [XLSX, 12 KB]
Download the scope of operations form [PDF, 355 KB]
Contact your verifier (see Step 3) and arrange a time for them to verify your business.
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 6 months of registering.
How often you are checked will depend on how successfully you are managing food safety. This could be as little as once every 2 years if you are managing food safety well.
The verifier will check you are making safe food and keeping records. They will give feedback on areas that need improvement.
If you have questions about National Programme 3, email info@mpi.govt.nz.
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