Media

Muscat municipality has been making intensive efforts to organize local markets and control random vending through continuous inspection campaigns to public squares, neighborhoods, shops, and factories. The municipal laws and regulations emphasise the importance public health at an optimal level.

Mr. Khalid ar`Rahbi, director of urban inspection department of Muscat municipality in Bousher, said that the municipality has been entitled to find a suitable mechanism that would regulate markets and to supervise them on a regular basis.
The inspection departments therefore make periodic visits to all stations without exception to monitor the extent at which health requirements are adhered, and that unlicensed activities are not practiced.

In spite of the important roles carried out by the inspection departments, activities of mobile vendors are still noticeable. Usually food offered by mobile vendors is not safe for human consumption as it is normally exposed to direct sunlight, dust and carbon emissions from vehicles. Furthermore, vendors do not comply to health requirements necessary when dealing with food.

Ar`Rahbi added" "because the phenomena of mobile vending has spread noticeably in Muscat governorate, it was necessary for the municipality to regulate such activities in collaboration with other competent bodies like the Ministry of trade and industry. Joint meetings have been conducted to discuss this phenomena and to find appropriate sites and approvals for mobile vendors to practice their work. Specifications of such work and necessary requirements for the cart or vehicles at which mobile vending is practiced have been made.