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Thinking of starting a new food business?
Starting a new food business can be exciting but there are rules to follow. These steps will help ensure you are making and selling food in a safe and suitable way.
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Step 1
Find out the rules
You need to follow the rules for your type of food business.
If you grow, manufacture, import, store, transport, export or sell food or beverage products for human consumption, you need to meet certain food safety requirements. And if you manufacture and sell food for animals (like pets), there are also rules you need to follow.
The way you trade in food determines the legislation you need to follow. You might need to operate under the Food Act 2014, Wine Act 2003, Animal Products Act 1999, or the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997.
The My Food Rules tool will help you find which Act you need to operate under, and the plan or programme you need to use.
Step 2
Create a plan or programme to make safe and suitable food
The type of food or beverage product will determine which plan or programme you will need to follow. You will need to make sure everyone in your business follows the plan or programme.
The easiest way to create your plan or programme is by using the My Food Rules tool (see Step 1).
More details about these plans and programmes follow.
The Food Act 2014
The Food Act covers importers, exporters, food service, food retail and manufacturers. There are 2 food safety measures under this Act:
- Food control plans
- National programmes.
An importer will have to register as an importer with MPI and register a food control plan or a national programme.
Browse our case studies for examples of what types of businesses need to operate under the Food Act.
Note, that under the Food Act, some low-risk food events and businesses don't need a plan or programme.
Exemptions from Food Act requirements
You can also use The notebook to find out what food rules apply to a new business, how to put together a plan or programme, find a verifier, and get registered.
The notebook – for businesses making and selling food [PDF, 999 KB]
Summary guidance about how to start a food business
Do you want to make and sell food? [PDF, 346 KB]
The Wine Act 2003
The Wine Act covers winemakers. Most wine businesses will have to register a wine standards management plan or WSMP.
Find out about wine standards management plans
Some small winemakers and wine businesses are exempt from registering a WSMP.
Wine businesses exempt from registering a wine standards management plan
The Animal Products Act 1999
The Animal Products Act covers businesses that process or manufacture animal products. These businesses require a risk management programme (RMP).
Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997
Businesses which manufacture and sell food for animals need to meet the requirements of the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act.
Agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines
Making food for animals guidance [PDF, 267 KB]
Step 3
Register your business
Most food and beverage businesses need to be registered. The My Food Rules tool will tell you where to register. Note, under the Food Act 2014 there are 2 options for registering – either with MPI or with your local council.
Register a food control plan or national programme
Step 4
Get checked
Businesses operating under the Food Act, Wine Act and Animal Products Act need to have their plan or programme checked by a verifier to ensure that safe and suitable food is being produced.
Find a verifier on our register (Animal Product Act, Food Act, and Wine Act)
Video: What's a verification? (1:28)
Transcript – show/hide
[Jazz background music, narrator talks while a hand can be seen drawing a cartoon of a chef.]
Narrator: "So, you're wanting to start a food business, and all that’s on your mind is just making the food and making some money.
However, before you do that you need to register with your council or with MPI.
And then get it checked. Right? Right.
So listen up! This check-up or properly known as a food safety verification shows that you can demonstrate safe food practices, have an understanding for food safety, and you practise it every day.
[A hand draws a chef in a kitchen with another person. A folder titled 'Food safety verification' is on the bench.]
Why? Because if you don’t make safe food, people get sick [sound of flies, sick sound], they blame it on the last thing they ate, they complain to the council, they complain to their friends, they complain online, and essentially tarnish the reputation of your business.
[Drawing of a building with an "Out of business" sign across it.]
Food safety is absolutely crucial for keeping both your customers and your business safe.
But how do you know if you’re keeping food safe so you can pass your verification?
Your local food safety verifiers are here to coach you along the way and suggest tips and tricks to make sure you’re getting your food safety right.
[Drawing of a chef talking to verifier with speech bubbles saying "Does this look right", "If this happens again what should I do?", "What's the legal requirement for...", "How do I check for pests?", "How can I do this better?".]
Get to know them, ask them questions, and take in all you can from your verifier session.
With a good understanding of food safety, you can spend more time making safe food and less time with your verifier.
Happy belly, happy customer. [belch sound]
For a more in depth look at what happens at a verification, check out our next video.
[Video of an egg being broken into a frying pan with a title across it saying "Food Act 2014".]
[End of transcript]
Find out more about starting a food business
Our resources page has more advice and guidance on how to start, grow, change, or manage a new food business.
