Dunedin's food-service sector is well placed to cope with new regulations which came into effect on March 1.
The Food Act 2014 imposes more stringent food safety processes on producers and tougher penalties on those flouting the law.
The Hospitality Association of New Zealand Otago branch told the ODT earlier this week the Act's rules would have a cost, which customers should expect to bear.
However, statistics from the Ministry for Primary Industries show Dunedin businesses are ahead of the game.
Higher-risk businesses, such as those in the food service sector, have to operate under food control plans under the Act.
About 86% of Dunedin food service businesses have already adopted a food control plan under the ministry's voluntary implementation programme, the ministry's figures show.
In March last year, figures showed three-quarters of Dunedin businesses were already using food control plans.
The ministry said the Dunedin figures were well above the national average, with only about 37% of food service businesses nationwide adopting a plan before the law came into force.
All businesses started from March 1 must comply with the Act immediately, but existing businesses may transition to the new rules between 2016 and 2019, depending on the nature of the business.
