DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning has plans to issue new health and safety rules for various outlets, including, possibly, eateries and others.
A senior Doha Municipality official has said the regulations would be issued on the directives of the Minister soon.
Mohamed Ahmed Al Sayed, Head of Health Monitoring Section at the municipality, however, gave no details of the proposed rules.
He said in an interview to the local Arabic daily Al Watan published on Friday that according to Qatari laws, all imported food items have a maximum validity of one year irrespective of the duration of their validity in the countries of their origin.
Citing an example, Al Sayed said: “Suppose there is a particular food item and its expiry date is after five years in the country of its origin. But when it lands here, its validity will be for one year.”
Al Sayed said this year some 40 outlets have been referred to the Public Prosecution over violations of health and safety rules.
These were the outlets that failed to approach Doha Municipality for reconciliation the law permits.
However, 95 percent of them are expected to settle the matter amicably with the Public Prosecution.
There is no reconciliation in case a customer suffers permanent disability caused after using a food item. Such crimes are punishable with a prison term.
Al Sayed said his department was considering setting up temporary cells at the abattoirs during the upcoming Eid Al Adha festival to oversee the slaughter of animals.
To a question, he said it is a violation of health and safety rules if an outlet switches off a refrigeration unit at night.
“It is also a violation if the temperature of a refrigeration system in an outlet is not between zero and four degrees Celsius.”
The official said that inspectors from his department not only check foodstuff at outlets but also the condition and hygiene at these places. The inspectors have judicial powers.
According to Al Sayed, Qatar’s civic food monitoring laws are quite effective and straightforward and inspectors from the neighbouring states are appreciative of them.
“We have food experts working with us and they help us catch food items that are not fit for human consumption,” said Al Sayed.
Animals meant for slaughter are vaccinated here and can be slaughtered only 21 days after that, he added.
The Peninsula
