Food Act Guidelines
Food Control Plans
Get Started Now
Although the Food Act comes into effect in March 2016, if you are a food service business you have
the opportunity to lead the way and get started now. By adopting a template Food Control Plan
(FCP) under the new Act, you will be exempted from the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. This will
give more flexibility in the way you manage food safety in your business.
What types of food businesses can start the FCP now?
Food businesses that are within the Food Service and Catering sectors of the food industry (restaurants,
takeaways, cafes/lunch bars, and catering businesses), can begin early transition to the Food Act now.
What is a template Food Control Plan?
A template Food Control Plan (FCP) is a step-by-step guide to food safety procedures that can be tailored
to suit your business needs and includes pre-printed records, forms and a diary. Operating with the FCP
will help your business meet its food safety and suitability requirements. It’s a management tool for
operators and will demonstrate your commitment to food safety.
How will operating a Food Control Plan benefit my business?
Implementing a Food Control Plan under the new Act will give your customers confidence that the rules
governing the food they purchase from you is consistently safe, and in line with standards of food safety
applied throughout the country.
Take control and use the FCP to your advantage:
 You can personalise an FCP to suit your business. This could reduce the number of visits by
Environmental Health Officers (EHO)
 Train your staff in Basic Food Hygiene and save on training fees
 Keep track of your waste; waste less food and save money
 Produce consistently safe and suitable food and help ensure repeat custom.
Why should I register for Food Control Plan now?
Although the Food Act 2014 is not yet fully in force, Rotorua Lakes Council Officers are actively mentoring
food operators who wish to operate an FCP.
Moving to an FCP sooner means your business will benefit from:
 More mentoring and time from council officers.
 Officers being available to support you through your FCP journey.
Do I have to do extra work?
Under FCP there will be more records but 80 percent of the plan is written for you. It might be a bit
challenging in the beginning but like anything, after time it will become routine and you are already half-way
there if you are:
 checking and recording temperatures;
 following a cleaning schedule; and
 documenting what happens when the process goes wrong.
What does ‘safe’ and ‘suitable’ mean?
 Safe food won’t make people ill.
 Suitable food is in the right condition for its intended use, and meets labelling, identification and
compositional requirements.
What’s the difference between audit (verification) and inspection?
Inspection is by observation on the day, including a checklist and reality check. Audit (verification) is
systems based, reviewing procedures, records and a reality check.
If I don’t agree with the audit outcome can I appeal?
Any dispute over an audit outcome can be appealed via the council and Ministry for Primary Industries
(MPI).
Is the Template Food Control Plan available in different languages?
Yes, your commitment and understanding of FCP is important. MPI has published FCP in six different
languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, Thai and Vietnamese.
If I operate under a template Food Control Plan now, can I opt out later on?
In the interim period to 1 March 2016 you have the option of surrendering the plan and reverting back to
Food Hygiene Regulations.
However, this option will disadvantage you and your business. You will have to start over again once the
Food Act comes into force in 2016. It will cost you more to register your business again and an officer might
not be able to provide the same support they can at present.
Once I register, what happens next?
Within three months of your registration being approved, a Rotorua Lakes Council officer (MPI approved)
will come and audit (verify) your FCP. Audits will have three possible outcomes: Acceptable, Unacceptable
or Non-compliance.
The officer will look at the Food Control Plan and talk to you and your staff to gather evidence that you are
following your plan and to check that you are preparing safe and suitable food consistently.
Where can I get a copy of a template Food Control Plan?
By downloading an FCP or registering an electronic-version of an FCP from the MPI website.
How do I contact a Rotorua Lakes Council officer?
If you want to join the Voluntary Implementation Programme now and start your FCP with added support, or
if you have any other questions, contact the council Licensing team on 07 348 4199.
Find out more
For further information on Food Control Plans, or to download a Template Food Control Plan visit:
Rotorua Lakes Council
1061 Haupapa Street
Private Bag 3029
Rotorua Mail Centre
Rotorua 3046
Ph: 07 348 4199
[email protected]
www.rotorualakescouncil.nz
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
Ph: 0800 69 37 21
[email protected]
www.foodsafety.govt.nz
RDC-542464