New food premises | Existing food premises | Hairdressing salons
Establishing a new food premises
Setting up a food premises requires much planning to avoid practical, economic, and legal pitfalls.
Before starting a new food premises you will need to check if you need a resource consent and/or a building consent. Contact Council’s environmental health officers first - it could save you time and money.
If you have a premises you are considering leasing, an environmental health officer can meet you at the site and discuss the requirements which you will need to comply.
Registration
All premises where food is stored, manufactured, or prepared for sale, other than those which have an approved food safety programme, must be approved and registered by Council under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974.
To learn more about registering your premises see our registration page.
Information about Food Safety Programmes can be viewed on the NZFSA website.
You also have the option of registering an off-the-peg Food Control Plan for Food Service and Catering Businesses e.g. restaurants, cafes, takeaways. Information available from Council's Environmental Health Office and NZFSA website.
Do I need to have a food handling qualification?
Yes. Council’s bylaw requires that every food premise shall have at least one person employed in a supervisory position who has been issued with an approved certificate in Food Handling, NZQA, Unit 167 or equivalent. The owner/operator of a food premise is required to ensure that new, temporary, or replacement staff are trained in the basic principles of food hygiene.
Courses in food hygiene are offered locally by the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.
Can I use my kitchen at home to prepare food for sale?
No. Food for sale is to be prepared on premises which are registered under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. The premises must be used exclusively for the purpose of preparing food for sale, and must be separate to a domestic kitchen.
Can I operate a food business from my home?
Yes, but you cannot use a domestic kitchen. However a separate kitchen can be established on a residential site. The Tauranga City Plan restricts the size and scale of the activity. For more information regarding District Plan requirements please call Council’s duty planner on 07 577 7000.
Can I use a kitchen in a community hall to prepare food for sale?
Kitchens in Council halls/sporting facilities are not registered under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. These facilities are not suitable for registration unless the person manufacturing the food has exclusive use of them. Some facilities are hired on an hourly or daily basis - these are not to be used for preparing or manufacturing food for sale.
What information do I need to include on the packaging/labelling of my food product?
Food labels tell people what they are eating so they can choose what to include in their diet. Labels also indicate any precautions people may need to take, such as storage or cooking instructions.
Nearly every food product requires a label, with varying degrees of detail. A food label contains information that is required by law. All food sold in New Zealand must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code for labelling.
There are various requirements. Please contact a Health Protection Officer at Toi te Ora Public Health (phone 09 5773394) to discuss. You could also take a look at the the foodsafety website.
Purchasing an existing food premises
When purchasing an existing food premises, there are certain things you need to find out.
- You should apply for a LIM (Land Information Memoranda) from the Council. A LIM will provide information regarding any requisitions or conditions related to the property.
- Ask the vendor for a copy of the recent Food Premises Assessment. Should the last assessment not be recent (recommended no more than two months since the last inspection), request the vendor to arrange for an environmental health officer to undertake another assessment.
- Check that a current certificate of registration has been issued.
After purchasing a food premise, the new owner is required to transfer the certificate of registration within 14 days.
I am selling my food premises, am I reimbursed for the remaining portion of the annual registration fee?
No. Council does not refund annual registration fees. Usually the vendor, or their solicitor claim the remaining portion from the purchaser.
Can I sell Food made on my Food Premises at other Businesses i.e. a "bun run".
Yes provided the food is prepared and packaged at a registered Food premises, it can be offered for sale at offices etc. All the food must be wrapped to protect it from contamination and perishable products must be kept at temperatures below 4oC.
Establishing a hairdressing salon
To set up a hairdressing salon, you must have a certificate of registration before you can open for business. This certificate shows that your salon complies with the structural and sanitary requirements set down in the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations.
Brochure: What you need to know about setting up a hairdresser's salon (2.51mb pdf)
Note - Beauty Therapy and Tattoo Parlours are not required to be registered. Ministry of Health has some guidlines - refer Toi te Ora (phone 07 577 3394).
Last Reviewed: 30/04/2012