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Food Act 2014

Provisions relating to recognition, territorial authorities, administration, and enforcement - Offences - Offences

237: Offence involving intentionally deceiving by pretending to be official

You could also call this:

"Pretending to be a food safety officer or other official to trick people is against the law."

Illustration for Food Act 2014

If you pretend to be someone you are not, to trick people, you can get in trouble with the law. You might pretend to be a food safety officer, or someone who works for a council, or a person who helps these officers. If you do this on purpose to deceive people, you are committing an offence under the Food Act 2014.

If you break this law, you can face serious penalties. If you are a company, you could be fined up to $250,000. If you are an individual, you could go to prison for up to 3 months and also be fined up to $50,000.

You should not pretend to be someone who has authority under the Food Act 2014, such as a recognised person or a registration authority, as this can also lead to you getting in trouble with the law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2996355.

Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Food and water safetyCrime and justice > Criminal lawBusiness > Industry rules
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Part 4Provisions relating to recognition, territorial authorities, administration, and enforcement
Offences: Offences

237Offence involving intentionally deceiving by pretending to be official

  1. A person commits an offence if, with intent to deceive, the person pretends to be—

  2. a food safety officer; or
    1. an officer of a territorial authority performing a function or duty, or exercising a power, under this Act; or
      1. a person assisting an officer described in paragraph (a) or (b); or
        1. a person employed by a recognised agency; or
          1. a recognised person; or
            1. a registration authority performing a function or duty, or exercising a power, under this Act.

              1. A person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction,—

              2. for a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $250,000:
                1. for an individual, to—
                  1. imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months; and
                    1. a fine not exceeding $50,000.