Food outlets warned for flouting tobacco rules

ajman — Thirty per cent of the 150 food outlets inspected by the Ajman Municipality have been found to be flouting the federal law on tobacco control. These restaurants and cafes have been given a grace period of 15 days to stop serving shisha or face a fine of Dh10,000.

Launching a massive crackdown, the municipality has issued warnings to eateries serving shisha in various parts of the emirate to desist from breaching the rules that are aimed at safeguarding public health and for environmental safety.

Khalid Al Hosani, director of the health and environment department at the Ajman Municipality, said that inspections are being carried out in all the food outlets and hypermarkets to ensure food safety.

“The electronic system of the health department of the municipality has provided 9,286 electronic health services in recent times,” he added.

Al Hosani pointed out that the drive by the civic body includes intensifying surprise and regular visits in all food units operating in the emirate. The percentage of violations and warnings increased during 2018 and 2017 compared to the previous years because of the tightening of control over food establishments, he said.

He added that the campaigns organised by the municipality during the last year were meant to check if food outlets were adhering to health safety requirements and the cafes were following the federal law on tobacco control.

“The implementation of the Ajman public health programme and the training of workers in the food sector contributed to enhancing the quality of services provided to consumers,” Al Hosani said.

He added that the programme aimed to raise the standard of public health in the food and health establishments operating in the emirate in accordance with the federal food safety law.

Al Hosani said that the programme is training employees in food establishments, implementing food safety and health systems in these institutions, and carrying out comprehensive auditing in them.