During last March after 8137 inspection visits
Muscat Municipality closes 39 shops, destroys 26000 kg and records 211 cases of violation
With 8137 inspection visits to markets and shops during last March, Muscat Municipality closed 39 shops, recorded 211 hygiene cases of Violation) and destroyed over 26000 kg of foodstuffs, vegetables and fruits. These visits come as a part of the concentrated service efforts exerted by the food inspection and monitoring departments in Muscat Municipality, Department of Health Affairs, Department of Central Market of Citrus and Offices of border crossing points that work decisively and relentlessly to ensure that the food provided to the consumer is healthy and safe. .
The visits covered most of the food stores such as shops that sell meat, poultry, fish, desserts and nuts as well as other shops concerned with selling foods .
Most damages and violations that occurred at the Central Citrus Market were due to the presence of molds and fungi on agricultural products, vegetables and fruits that are produced locally or imported.
2700 cartons of frozen chicken unfit for consumption, and 93 pieces of expired cosmetics were also destroyed.
The inspection teams carried out surprise inspection campaigns to increase the hygienic level of the shops and their personnel to provide consumers with high quality services. .
The Local Order No. (1/2006) concerning the protection of public health , stipulates regulations and laws governing monitoring food establishments and regulations of health requirements for the practice of activities related to public health, and explains the frameworks specified for conducting these activities. It also determines the duties incumbent on the inspection teams of food as well as the methods of carrying out the work. It further sets the bases to be followed in handling food in food establishments. Article (2) states that the municipality has the right to close food establishments and shops associated with public health directly in the cases where they practice their activities without obtaining a municipal license, commit commercial fraud in food, or in cases of the presence of insects or rodents or an evidence of their presence in the shop or when sewage is leaking. This also applies to the cases where shops sell or deal in foods or beverages seized by the municipality, the occurrence of mass poisoning or epidemic diseases resulting from food and beverage traded in the shop, recurrence of non-compliance with health requirements, failure to remove health violations, employment of workers with epidemic diseases or in emergency cases as decided by the competent authorities..
Administrative Decision No. (168/2011) regarding the issuance of regulations and health requirements related to public health, has stated the health requirements needed for the exercise of each activity alone, including food activities, other activities related to public health and the requirements for constructing an establishment, electricity and water connections, wastewater, public hygiene, pest control and security and safety requirements for manpower. The Municipality also works constantly to develop and modernize health requirements as required by the latest developments in this respect.
Muscat Municipality calls on the owners businesses to adhere to the implementation of all health requirements in their establishments, to follow up the situation there, and to refer to the competent municipal authorities if they have any enquiries. The consumer citizens and residents can communicate with Muscat Call Center by dialing (1111) to express any comments or concerns.