(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Getting tougher on erring food and health institutions across the emirate, the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality has booked 67 outlets for flouting rules in December.
Around 862 food and health institutions were inspected during the period, according to a top official.
Shaimaa Al Tunaiji, acting manager of the public health department, said the staff inspectors carried out 311 inspection campaigns in December. "Around 70kg products that proved unfit for human consumption and bad for health were confiscated. These included 52kg of cosmetic products and 17.5kg food products."
Some outlets turn deaf ears to repetitive warnings letters and disregard the impact of unfit products on customers' health, she added.
"The RAK municipal inspectors deal with no tolerance to any violation related to people's health, and keep a close eye on all food and health institutions across the emirate."
Al Tunaiji said hefty fines along with temporary or permanent closure shall be forced against erring institutions. "More inspection campaigns will be launched to get a better control of the RAK markets."
While none of the erring shops was shut down, 13 of them were issued warning letters, she disclosed. "The 67 erring outlets were ordered to pay fines up to Dh21,300." Staff inspectors also impounded one vehicle for selling food on a public road.
"The public is urged to show no cooperation with street vendors, mostly coming from nearby emirates. They are not licensed and fail to meet due health conditions posing a grave risk to people's health."
Official records show that the RAK Municipality issued 1,801 health cards to workers of commercial entities last month. "Up to 91 validity certificates for exporting foodstuff were issued in December.
RAK livestock inspection Around 8,141 livestock animals, spanning sheep, goats, and cows, were slaughtered at slaughterhouses of the emirate, including 6,337 at the Central Abattoir in Felayyah area, said Shaimaa Al Tunaiji, acting manager of the public health department at the RAK Municipality. "Forty-six livestock were killed for being sick and unfit for human consumption."
Up to 921 livestock were slaughtered in the Shawka Abattoir against 754 in the RAK Abattoir and 129 in the new Al Ghail Slaughterhouse, Al Tunaiji elaborated. "Up to 492kg of slaughtered birds were also seized at the RAK International Airport."
The central municipal lab has received 533 samples, including 363 food and 170 water samples, for analysis, she said. "Up to 497 of these proved valid while 36 failed to meet the UAE standards."
Ahmed Shaaban Originally from Egypt, I have been in Dubai since December 2005. Before coming here, I worked as an English language instructor, chief En/Ar translator, proofreader, reporter in Egypt and Qatar. I have also worked as a reporter, correspondent and simultaneous translator with two satellite channels in Dubai. I have a masters degree in media, Cairo University, 2014, a bachelor degree in English language and translation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 1996, and three post-graduate diplomas in English language and Instruction. With over 19 years of experience in translation, interpretation, EFL instruction, and reporting. I am interested in technology, aviation, politics, as well as community, parliament and defence issues. I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, and surfing the web.
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