Important update: new Food Business Levy from 1 July 2025

All growers registered under the Food Act should have received information from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) about the introduction of a new levy from 1 July 2025.

What growers need to know

• From 1 July 2025, a levy will apply to all Food Act-registered businesses
• The levy will be collected by New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS), part of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), to fund regulatory food safety activities
• The 2025 levy is set at $57.50 per business (for the first year)
• Invoices will be sent directly by MPI/NZFS to registered businesses from July 2025.

This levy is not linked to GAP certification. In many cases GAP programmes facilitate growers to be registered under the Food Act. This Food Act levy is not managed or spent by NZGAP or HortNZ.

It is a regulatory requirement under the Food Act to pay this levy, and all registered businesses must pay it.

We acknowledge this levy adds to grower compliance costs -- especially for GAP-certified growers already going above and beyond to meet food safety obligations.

HortNZ and NZGAP strongly opposed the introduction of this levy in our submission to the Government last year.

We argued that a one-size-fits-all approach is unfair, especially for GAP-certified growers who are already investing significantly in rigorous food safety standards aligned with international requirements.

We made the case that the levy amounts to unnecessary duplication for these growers and called on MPI to fully recognise GAP certification as horticulture’s established system for setting and meeting food safety standards.

What happens next

HortNZ and NZGAP are working with New Zealand Food Safety to ensure levy revenue delivers real value to growers. One initiative underway is the formation of a new Fresh Produce Food Safety Group, involving HortNZ, NZGAP, United Fresh, New Zealand Food Safety, The New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre and the Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia and New Zealand.

This group will be engaging with growers, including at the Horticulture Conference in August, to seek feedback on its purpose and priorities.

More information

MPI will contact Food Act-registered businesses directly regarding the invoicing of the levy.

If you have any questions, please refer to the Food Business Levy FAQs or contact FoodActLevies@mpi.govt.nz