What you need to know
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has introduced a new Food Business Levy for food businesses registered under the Food Act 2014. Effective from 1 July 2025, this annual levy will be collected by our Council, as a registration authority, on behalf of MPI.
If your food business is registered with us, you’ll receive an invoice for the levy each July. New businesses will be charged the levy upon initial registration, followed by annual payments every July thereafter.
The levy applies per site for businesses operating under a Food Control Plan (FCP) or per registered business for those under a National Programme (NP). It will be phased in over three years, with the following rates (all inclusive of GST):
- 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026: $66.13
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027: $99.19
- From 1 July 2027: $132.25 per year
Note: this does not include any collection fee for levies collected by territorial authorities
What does the levy fund?
The levy supports a range of services to help your business thrive while ensuring food safety for all New Zealanders. These include:
- Enhanced education and resources to help you meet food safety standards.
- Ongoing monitoring to maintain a robust food safety system and address potential issues proactively.
- Fair and consistent verification, registration, and enforcement services tailored to your business’s risk profile.
- Nationwide campaigns to tackle compliance challenges.
- Development of modern, business-friendly rules and standards, shaped by your feedback.
For more details, visit the MPI website(external link). If you have questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out to MPI directly at foodactlevies@mpi.govt.nz.