Over Dh300,000 fines paid for food, health violations in UAE

Ras Al Khaimah - Five outlets were shut down last year and 638 others were issued warning letters.

A total of 529 food and health establishments in the emirate were caught flouting policies in 2018, and the fines paid for all the violations amounted to over Dh300,000, the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality told Khaleej Times.
"Five outlets were shut down last year for being involved in serious health and environment issues; 638 others were issued warning letters; and 526 were forced to pay hefty fines that totalled Dh329,290," said Shaimaa Al Tunaiji, director of the public health department of RAK Municipality.
In a bid to tighten the noose on shops that disregard public health and safety, the municipality carried out 16,014 raids and 4,702 inspection campaigns across the emirate throughout the year, Al Tunaiji said.
"The 16,014 inspection visits accomplished last year spanned 8,757 raids on food institutions, 1,667 visits to veterinary institutions, and 3,248 health entities," she added.
Almost a thousand breaches of food and health regulations were recorded. "Up to 529 of 964 violations were found in food institutions, 91 in veterinary outlets, and 344 in health entities," Al Tunaiji said.
Expired products, along with those deemed unfit for human use, were immediately confiscated and destroyed. Of all the products seized, 1,023kg were food items and 1,352kg were cosmetics.
Records also showed that 93,704 livestock animals were slaughtered at the emirate's four abattoirs. "These included 5,183 in Shawka abattoir, 74,514 in the central abattoir in Filaya, 10,926 in RAK abattoir, and 3,081 in Al Gheil abattoir."

However, 422 livestock animals were killed for being sick and unfit for human consumption, Al Tunaiji said.
"Up to 822 food shipments of vegetables, frozen meat, and fish, have been examined at the RAK international airport, but three of these were rejected, and up to 2,050kg of foods were confiscated."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

 

• Ras Al Khaimah