- Print Friendly - Help

Off-the-peg Food Control Plans

Page last updated in June 2009

What is an off-the-peg Food Control Plan?

An off-the-peg Food Control Plan is a ready-made set of procedures a food business operator uses to record how each food safety aspect of their business is managed. Off-the-peg Food Control Plans will be designed by NZFSA to meet the needs of small-to-medium sized, less complex operations. Off-the-peg Food Control Plans will be available free of charge.

An off-the-peg Food Control Plan for food service and catering businesses has been introduced on a voluntary basis. Food operators who choose to use the off-the-peg Food Control Plan can now get a free copy from a participating local council.

Local councils participating in the voluntary implementation of Food Control Plans

Download the food service and catering Food Control Plan and other resources

There are two versions of the Food Control Plan (the Plan) and Diary. Both versions and related resources are available for downloading from the links below.

Version one

Version 1 was released in June 2008 and can be downloaded in several formats in English as well as in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Hindi.

Version two

Version 2, released in June 2009, includes new information on town supply water, introduces options for cooking poultry and new pages on food labelling, food composition and displaying food for retail sale. The Diary has been updated to support the changes to cooking poultry. An update pack can be downloaded to convert a version 1 Plan to version 2.

Version two web-only pages

Surface water or groundwater supply

Water - roof water

Chinese style roast duck

Doner kebab

Sushi (nigiri pieces and nori rolls)

Related resources

Poster 1: Hygiene matters [PDF: 238KB, 1 page]

Poster 2: Separate your foods [PDF: 267KB, 1 page]

Poster 3: Cross-contamination [PDF: 292KB, 1 page]

Fridge magnet: Temperature danger zone [PDF: 151KB, 1 page]

Sticker: How to wash your hands [PDF: 176KB, 1 page]

Applying HACCP to off-the-peg Food Control Plans

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is a system to identify, evaluate, and control biological, chemical, and physical hazards in a food process. Background reports are available describing how HACCP has been applied to each Food Control Plan. These reports will be useful for operators wanting to use their off-the-peg Food Control Plan as a basis to develop an individual food safety management programme.

Information for consumers

Look out for this sticker displayed in the window of food businesses that have registered a Food Control Plan.
This brochure explains why a business with a Food Control Plan is a good choice for consumers. It is available from participating businesses. You can read what the brochure says here.

How does the new Food Control Plan system differ from what happens now?

Under the Food Act 1981, most food operators register their premises with their local council. An Environmental Health Officer inspects these registered premises each year to assess compliance with the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974.

With a Food Control Plan in place (registered as a Food Safety Programme) an operator will be exempt from the Food Hygiene Regulations. A council Environmental Health Officer (or representative) will verify (check) that the business is following its Food Control Plan and that it’s appropriate for that business. The verifier does this by reviewing records, talking to management and staff, and visually assessing business activities.

How do I find out more information about Food Control Plans?

• Food Control Plans coming soon – information flyer. Check out our two-page information flyer announcing the release of Food Control Plans. This flyer is available in several languages.

• Your local council will keep you up-to-date with developments.

• Contact details for your local council [Local Government Online]

• NZFSA produces a free quarterly newsletter (4degreesC) for food retail businesses which you can subscribe to by sending an email to: 4dCEditor@nzfsa.govt.nz or call 0800 693 721.

• Bookmark this page to read updates on the changes!