Standard Terms for Verification
Definitions
In this agreement, the words "we", "us" and so on mean Waipa District Council (WDC) or any contractors, and we have
used "you" and so on to mean the customer named in the verification agreement.
In these terms the words "service" and "services" cover the services we have agreed to provide (and anything else we
do at your request) which are described below.
"The Act" means the Food Act 2014 and any amendments to that Act or Regulations made under the Act such as the
Food Regulations 2015.
"The programme" means the risk based measure, National Programme (Level 1, 2 or 3), the customer is required to
operate under.
Period of Agreement
Subject to the other provisions of these terms, our obligations to each other start on the start date and end on the
termination of the agreement, except where those obligations are expressly stated to survive termination. Either party
may terminate this agreement with not less that 14 days notice to the other party.
Preconditions or Conflicts of Interest
If any staff from WDC have been involved in the design of your food premises or procedures, we cannot act as your
verifier. We aim to undertake the agreed services in an independent and impartial manner at all times. WDC has
been approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) as a recognised verifier under the Act.
Nature of the Services
We will verify your food safety practices as required during the term of this agreement and (where appropriate) report
your compliance with the programme and with the relevant provisions of the Act to your registration authority and/or
MPI.
We will obtain such evidence as we consider sufficient to enable us to draw reasonable conclusions as to whether or
not you are complying with the programme and with the relevant provisions of the Act. The nature and extent of our
procedures will vary according to our assessment of your systems, premises and practices, and, where we wish to
place reliance on it, your internal control framework.
We will report in writing any matters we consider important and requiring attention.
If we believe there are potential food safety or suitability issues eg product recall, complaints received, on direction
from MPI or your registration authority, we may carry out unscheduled verification of a business. Additional fees may
be incurred in these circumstances.
Purpose of the Services
Our services are designed to monitor compliance with the risk based measure and with the relevant sections of the
Act. If any deficiencies in internal controls and practices, not strictly relevant to the verification, come to our attention,
we will advise you of these, but we only aim to identify deficiencies within the scope of the verification.
Any other services we may provide from time to time at your request are distinct from our function as verifiers and may
be refused if this would generate a conflict of interest with regards to your verification.
Our agreeing to provide the services does not constitute a permit, authorisation, or other permission under any Act,
Regulation, or Bylaw. Our verification does not remove your liability for the consequences of failure to comply with any
Act, Regulation, Bylaw, or other requirement.
Standard of Service
When we provide services to you, we will use our best endeavours to:
• provide the services with care and skill
• ensure your verifier is knowledgeable and competent to verify your specific food business operations. This may
include contracting a Technical Expert to assist us in the verification your food business
• provide the services within a reasonable time or within any agreed time limit
• provide a reliable service although we do not guarantee it will be fault free
• provide a report your registration authority within 10 working days of completing the verification in any situation
where WDC is not the registration authority, or where the registration authority is MPI, information required in the format
specified within 10 days of the end of the calendar month.