Authority intends to ‘expose’ firms dealing in spoilt foodstuff: official
Number of companies files registered at SMESC hits 2,051
KUWAIT CITY, Sept 27: Chairman of the Board of Directors of Public Authority for Food and Nutrition Essa Al-Kandari stated the intention to expose the traders of spoilt foodstuffs by announcing the names of their companies, reports Al-Rai daily.
He explained the decision is in line with law governing the activities of the sector, indicating the list of names of all violators will be revealed immediately after the court passes its sentence. He noted a decree concerning food monitoring was issued according to the decision of Cabinet, and that Public Authority for Food and Nutrition will begin its implementation on Dec 1, 2017.
He added the inspection directorates and food centers will be transferred from Kuwait Municipality and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry respectively to the premises of Public Authority for Food and Nutrition. He stressed that food inspectors will be delegated from Kuwait Municipality to the new premises.
Imported
Al-Kandari reiterated the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, as of the end of 2017, will become the only official body responsible for the safety of all kinds of foodstuff and beverages—including the local produce and imported food.
Meanwhile, Head of Small and Medium Enterprises Services Center (SMESC) in the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Faisal Al-Bugaili said the number of companies’ files registered in the center reached 2,051; whereas the number of commercial and industrial licenses totaled 3,490, reports Al-Jarida daily.
In his recent interview with the daily, Al-Bugaili explained that if a company is suspected of manipulating procedures or benefiting from privileges illegally; its file will be forwarded to the Small and Medium Enterprises Inspection Committee.
He revealed the committee consists of experts in checking the legality of procedures and ensuring validity of the address stated in the commercial license.
If proven to have violated the law, the company’s file will be closed, put under a certain code and referred to the concerned authorities for investigation, he added.
Asked about the privileges granted to owners of small and medium enterprises, Al-Bugaili said these privileges include recruitment of workers from abroad – 10 workers during the opening of file as minimum per license or one worker for each five meters and the maximum is 100 workers.