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Producing food for sale

Are you thinking of starting a small food business, selling from a roadside stall or market, or using food for fundraising? Read about the first steps, keeping your customers safe and complying with regulations. This includes packing, storing and transporting food.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) administers legislation covering all food for sale in New Zealand. This legislation is implemented by Health Protection Officers based at regional Public Health Units acting on behalf of NZFSA, and Environmental Health Officers from local councils (Territorial Authorities) who inspect the food premises that are registered with them.

The steps you need to take to get started can depend on the type of food business you intend to operate, and also where you intend to operate. As most New Zealand businesses start small and grow from there, the information below will be helpful when you are getting started with your food business.

Starting a small business selling food

Learn about the steps to starting a small business selling food in New Zealand. This page covers topics like:

• registering a food business

• the legislation you need to comply with including the food safety and hygiene standards, and regulations on transportation and storage

• what to do if you plan to export food overseas

• operating from home kitchens, mobile food vehicles, roadside stalls and local markets

• organising an event where food will be sold

• starting to distribute, store or transport food

• food bottling and packaging, food grade containers and display of food

• using cleaners, sanitisers and chemicals for microbial control

• lists of manufacturers or distributors for animal medicines

• selling pet food

• changes coming to New Zealand food legislation.

Starting a small business selling food

Food for fundraising, fairs, charity and promotions

Many groups including schools, churches and charities, use food as a method of raising funds. Sausages, jams, chocolate and biscuits are popular foods sold for fundraising. Food Hygiene Regulations apply to food made and sold for fundraising.

Food for fundraising, fairs, charity and promotions

Related links

Public Health Service contact details for New Zealand

Get contact details for your local council [Local Government Online]

Food exporting requirements – please first choose the industry you are involved in eg, dairy

Food safety training – recommended for anyone who handles food

Legislation

Look up the Food Act 1981, the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 and the Food (Safety) Regulations 2002

Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code

The domestic food review – a major review of New Zealand’s domestic food laws

Food Safety Programme

Developing a food safety programme

How to apply for exemption from the Food Hygiene Regulations

Codes of Practice for developing Food Safety Programmes

Food labelling, dating and shelf life

Food labelling – understanding New Zealand's food labelling and compositional requirements

Food date marking, use-by dates and storage instructions

Calculating the shelf life of food products