A new pathway for assessing My Food Plans prior to registration by New Zealand Food Safety (MPI) has been announced, and is effective as of 1st August 2025.
There are two application pathways to register a Custom FCP with MPI:
- the conventional pathway or
- the “My Food Plan” pathway
Under the conventional pathway, the operator is responsible for every aspect of the plan including its development, validation and independent evaluation. MPI is involved at the end of the process in considering registration of the plan.
The “My Food Plan” pathway allows food businesses to use an online tool MyFoodRules to obtain a Custom FCP known as “My Food Plan” so they do not have to develop their own plan. Applications are submitted to MPI and go through a My Food Plan interview process as an alternative to the required evaluation of their plan, prior to registration. My Food Plan FCPs can be used for a wide range of products, but there are some exclusions (see pg 1 of the FA10MFP application form for exclusions).
From 1 August 2025, applicants of new My Food Plan FCPs can choose either to:
- undergo desktop evaluation of their My Food Plan custom FCP, or
- go through the My Food Plan interview process
There will be different application fees depending on which path the applicant chooses (see below). Applicants will be responsible for evaluator costs. A list of evaluators can be found on MPI’s public register: https://mpi.force.com/PublicRegisterRecognitions/s/ - MPI charge for new applications
Applicants that choose to undergo desktop evaluation will pay a reduced MPI application fee of $349.31 (incl. GST), plus the cost of the evaluation.
Applicants that request the My Food Plan interview process will pay existing MPI fee of $1,474.87 (incl. GST).
If you are already registered with a My Food Plan custom FCP, and you want to make a significant amendment, your amended FCP will need to either:
- undergo desktop evaluation of their My Food Plan custom FCP, or
- go through the My Food Plan interview process
