12 tons of goods confiscated at markets from Dubai labour camp

Vendors in these markets were selling vegetables, fruits, meat and fish in the open air

An inspection campaign carried by Dubai Municipality confiscated 12 tons of different variety of goods including food items at a labor camp in Dubai.
The municipality's Environmental Emergency Office caught 16 illegal vendors during their inspection at Muhaisnah 2 area  conducted in collaboration with the Waste Management Department of Dubai Municipality, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization and Al Qusais Police Station.
Mohammed Abbas Al Balooshi, Head of Environmental Emergency Office said large numbers of items caught were foodstuffs sold in these markets.
He added that the vendors in these markets were selling vegetables, fruits, meat and fish in the open air and without taking into account the rules of safe and hygienic storage.
"The meat and fish were displayed below normal temperatures and without cooling, or putting ice. Some were displayed by the trucks, where they were exposed to dust and all the other aspects of pollution," said Al Balooshi.
However, he added that the safe foodstuffs will be handed over to charity organizations.
Al Balooshi noted that the random markets are unlicensed, mainly located in three places in the emirate, the Jebel Ali Industrial area, Al Quoz, and Al Muhaisnah. Each of these areas has 3 to 4 markets.
Dubai Police supported the campaign team with large number of men to control the inspection process in industrial areas, while the Waste Management Department provided the team with advanced equipment to clear the damaged materials that were caught on the spot.
Al Balooshi added that the Municipality formulates annual plans targeting specialized markets, including the Fruits and Vegetables Market, Deira Markets, Cattle Market, and Fish Market to catch the offenders there, explaining that the aim of the inspection campaigns are to deter offenders from selling spoiled food in the markets.
He pointed out that by these campaigns does not aim to deprive these workers of buying cheap goods, but rather seeks to ensure their health and safety, especially that all the campaigns have resulted in finding food that are completely in violation to health and safety requirements.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com