Food Premises Grading

Waitakere City Council, in an initiative designed to improve the food safety in all food premises within its district, has introduced the grading of all food premises, along similar lines to the food grading systems introduced by the Auckland City and Manukau City Councils. 

Note: Council's normal regulatory food premises surveillance and licensing programmes will operate independently of the food grading system.

	What the grades mean
	Food premises grading results
	Food Safety Bylaw
	Approved Food Safety Programme premises

What the grades mean

When a premise first opens and then at least annually a premises will be graded and the premises will be issued with a grading certificate, which will be required to be displayed in a prominent position on the premises so as to be readily visible to members of the public visiting the premises.

A 'C' grade is not available so that is clearly separate those that comply with requirements and are highly graded, from the lowly graded premises.

View a list of grading results for premises in Waitakere City.

Note 1: In order to achieve an 'A' grade, a premises needs to take extra steps above and beyond the minimum statutory requirements (i.e. above a B grading), such as:

• The general standard of cleaning, hygiene and tidiness is of a superior standard.
• Cleaning and sanitising practises must comply with the requirements for the particular type of premises.
• Food contact surfaces and food utensils are rendered hygienic and are protected from contamination in storage.
• The premise must have posted and put into practise a formal cleaning schedule.
• On inspection there must be on the premises at least one supervisor or manager with sufficient authority and specific responsibility for staff training and supervision who has passed an NZQA qualification in food hygiene/safety that is less than 3 years old.
• At least 75% of staff have an approved qualification in food hygiene/safety that is less than 3 years old.
• The temperature at which any food is stored or displayed complies with food safety requirements and there is on the premises sufficient and satisfactory thermometers in order to monitor and maintain those temperatures.
• Ensure the premises is free from rodents, cockroaches or other insects/vermin and that the premises are regularly sprayed by a pest control professional.

Note 2: A grading will not be applicable to premises in the following circumstances:

1. Premises that are not required to be registered under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974
2. Premises that present negligible food safety risks (e.g. bottle shops)

For further information contact us.

 

Approved Food Safety Programme premises

Premises that possess an Approved Food Safety Programme are exempt from the requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 and fall outside the control of Council. These premises are also exempt from Council's food grading. Any queries concerning premises with approved food safety programmes should be made to the Food Safety Team at the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, phone (09) 623 4600.

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Please click here to find a list of exempt premises.

 

Food Safety Bylaw

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Bylaw No.26 1994 - Food Safety (Size 48K)