About (1916) visitations were executed within the last month
Muscat Municipality closes (18) shops, executes (190) violations and damages 49 thousand kilograms of foodstuffs
Muscat Municipality closed (18) food shops and executed (190) health violations for establishments such as food shops, barber shops and women`s beauty shops due to their failure to comply with health regulations and applicable requirements.
Divisions of Inspectors and Food Control at directorates related to Muscat Municipality executed about (1916) sudden and regular visitations according to a special program which was distributed into morning and night shifts. The program intended food establishments and shops relevant to public health. Intensive visitations were executed on barber shops and women`s beauty shops including (145) shops.
These visitations done by the specialists resulted in damaging (234) kilograms and (185) food cans that were unfit for human consumption due to their expiration and non-compliance with health conditions so the health and safety of consumer will be affected. Moreover, (163) tools used in work execution that were unfit for usage were damaged.
In this regard, the specialists in border outlets in cooperation with competent authorities damaged (2151) kilograms of various rotten foods of potatoes as they contain a high percentage of germination.
Legal Procedures
The Local Order No. (1/2006) of Public Health Protection identified the legislations and laws regulating the supervisory works on food establishments, and the regulations of the health requirements of practicing the activities related to the public health. It clarified the frameworks specified to practice these activities and defined the duties entrusted to the food inspection teams, in addition to defining the ways of work performance. The Local Order also identified the rules that should be followed in trading the food in food establishments. It is stipulated in Article No. (2) that the Municipality shall have the right to close the food establishments and shops related directly to the public health in case of practicing the activity without obtaining a municipal license, committing commercial fraud with respect to foods, existing of insects, rodents or anything indicating their existence in the shop or food, or leakages of sewage. The Municipality has also this right in case of sale or disposal in food or beverage retained by the Municipality, occurrence of cases of group poisoning or epidemic diseases resulting from food and beverage traded in the shop, repetition of non- compliance with the health requirements or non-removal of health violations, employment of workers with infectious diseases, or in cases of emergency determined by competent authorities.
The Administrative Decision No. (168/2011) concerned with issuing the regulations of the health requirements of activities related to the public health defined the health requirements specified to the practice of each activity separately. These activities include the food and other activities related to the public health. This Administrative Decision involves a regulation of the health requirements of all activities including the requirements of the building, electricity and water connection, sewerage, public hygiene, pest control, requirements of security and safety, and requirements of labor. The Municipality is always keen on the improvement and update of the health requirements according to the latest developments in this respect.
The Municipality calls the owners of the commercial establishments upon the necessity of the commitment to execute all health requirements, follow the health conditions, and refer to the competent authority in case of any inquiries. The consumers including citizens and residents can contact (1111) for any notes or inquiries.