Early learning services that provide food for children must make sure it is safe. They must comply with the Food Act 2014 and Food Regulations 2015.
Food Act 2014 – New Zealand Legislation
Food Regulations 2015 – New Zealand Legislation
Food safety licensing criteria
Rules and guidance for food and drink at early learning services are set out in our licensing criteria:
- Food and drink criteria for centre-based services
- Food and drink criteria for home-based services
- Food and drink criteria for te kōhanga reo
- Food hygiene criteria for playgroups.
National food safety programmes
The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) has 3 levels of national food safety programmes that operate under the Food Act. Most early learning services that provide food to children will need to register for National Programme 2.
Services participating in the KidsCan ECE Food for Kids Programme are not required to register food control plans with MPI.
KidsCan ECE Food for Kids Programme – KidsCan
To find out if your service must register, go to the Ministry of Primary Industries' (MPI) My Food Rules tool.
MPI has more information about the national programmes, who needs to be registered and how to register.
