Inspection depts have no offices: Al-Kanderi

Delay in testing samples

KUWAIT CITY, July 15: Director General of the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition Essa AlKanderi disclosed that non-availability of a permanent office is a major obstacle to the authority, adding the issue of allocating a permanent site remains in the hand of Kuwait Municipality, reports Al-Qabas daily.

In an interview with the daily, Al-Kanderi said the inspection departments do not have offices in the governorates, and that the authority has received several complaints from traders concerning delay in testing samples of foodstuffs, fruits and vegetables. He declared the authority will soon coordinate with the concerned government depart- ments to set up mobile laboratories to test food at land, air and sea borders.

He added the same system will be used in testing local agricultural products at farming outlets. He stressed the laboratory of the authority is still under construction and the contractor is expected to deliver on Jan 16, 2019. He also said the authority will take delivery of the laboratory from the Municipality three months later.

He noted exodus of the national manpower from the authority is due to lack of special cadre that will place employees on the same pedestal with their counterparts in other authorities whose significance are below the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition.

He reiterated the issue requires amendment to the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition Law, and that KD 17,814,000 allocated to the authority this fiscal year is capable of hindering the future plan if all responsibilities are transferred from relevant government departments to the sector.

Al-Kanderi