Saturday 04 / May / 2024
Muscat: Muscat Municipality has raided many abandoned homes where illegal sales of meat was taking place, and has issued violations against them. Approximately 36 kilograms of meat and poultry was destroyed by the authority.
As a result of the raids, 5 violations and 5 certificates of destruction were issued, and (118) tools were destroyed as a result of their damage and unfitness for use. The violators were also referred to the competent authorities to complete the legal procedures.
The Muscat Municipality said: "Abandoned houses are one of the most exploited spots by expatriate workers to practice a number of unlicensed activities away from the supervision of the competent authorities, including the activities of cutting and preparing meat for grills, which are carried out by expatriate workers inside those houses and selling meat without a license and in sanitary conditions that are almost non-existent as a result of these practices and the associated remains of slaughter and blood, leading to the gathering of insects and rodents as well as the spread of disturbing odors, not to mention the health status of those meats and the conditions of preservation and storage, which threatens the health status of consumers, the competent authorities aimed at enhancing the public health level.
The health control departments in the various municipalities of Muscat in the wilayats are the competent authority for monitoring and following up the activity of selling meat, as they make unremitting efforts to monitor various unhealthy practices to take the necessary action such as inspection visits and raids on abandoned farms or houses that practice unlicensed activities in cooperation with the competent authorities of the police Sultanate of Oman and the Public Prosecution in carrying out the raids.
This is in addition to the role played by the Health Control Department in following up and controlling the owners of shops licensed to sell meat and ensuring their compliance with health requirements to ensure the highest levels of safety. Muscat Municipality is keen on preparing training programs and providing inspectors, observers, food supervisors, technicians and veterinary assistants with the necessary expertise and skills to follow the basic health and technical methods in the field of animal source food control.
Regarding regulating the activity of selling meat, control efforts are intensified to ensure adherence to the health requirements set in this regard to ensure that the highest levels of safety are achieved meat and display, along with a customer waiting site.
Muscat Municipality clarified that in order to practice the activity of selling meat, the health requirements stipulated in Administrative Resolution No. (168/2011) regarding the issuance of health requirements regulations for activities related to public health must be fulfilled, including that the area of the shop should be commensurate with the size of the work, provided that it is not less than (24 square meters), and that the shop is equipped with a source of cold and hot water that conforms to the approved standard specifications for drinking water, and that the shop is equipped with tables and sinks made of stainless metal or a material that is not subject to cracking or interaction with meat, and that the shop is equipped with With an electric saw made of stainless metal, in the case of selling frozen meat.
In addition, the place must be equipped with a hand-washing machine that operates by foot pressure or by any other means other than direct hand-touching, and is equipped with antiseptic materials and a means for drying, and there are refrigerators for preserving and displaying fresh and chilled meat, and freezers for preserving frozen meat equipped with thermometers.
Muscat Municipality is keen to keep frozen meat at a temperature not exceeding (-18) degrees Celsius, and to keep chilled meat at a temperature ranging from (1) to (4) degrees Celsius, taking into account the recording of temperatures periodically and regularly, and that the store is equipped with In fire-resistant waste containers with lids that open with foot pressure, in addition to cleaning and disinfecting devices and tools after each use, cleaning floors and walls daily using appropriate disinfectants, taking into account that they do not affect meat, and also taking into account the separation of the customers’ waiting site from the meat cutting site.
It is also prohibited to display meat outside refrigerators or preservation refrigerators, and to melt frozen meat, as it must be displayed and sold in the same original preservation form. It is also prohibited to sell meat that is not sealed with the seal of the municipality or the seal of the entity from which it is imported, and it is also forbidden to remove the seal except in front of the consumer.
In addition to that, it is also prohibited Mincing meat and processing orders only in the presence of the customer. Violations and fines It should be noted that the administrative decision (55/2017) related to administrative penalties for violations of the Muscat Municipality indicated that in the event of practicing the activity without obtaining a license from the competent authorities, a fine of (OMR 300) is imposed, and that if a case of food promotion is seized Without the approval of the municipality, a fine of (300) three hundred Omani riyals is imposed, and the food item is destroyed in the event that it is proven to be invalid.
Likewise, in the event of seizing the sale and circulation of food products prepared in unlicensed places, a fine of OMR (300) is also imposed, and the food item is destroyed. Muscat Municipality stresses to all residents of the governorate the importance of community participation in reporting such unhealthy practices by contacting the Muscat Communication Center (1111) or through the various social networking sites of the municipality.
The extent of their commitment and adherence to appropriate housing requirements without practicing any unlicensed side activities that may lead to serious health, environmental and security risks.
