2 unlicensed food distribution vehicles seized in RAK

The RAK Municipality has seized two vehicles for unlicensed distribution of foodstuff to grocery stores, in violation of the set rules and regulations.

Mubarak Al Shamsi, Chairman of the RAK Municipality, said a hefty fine was slapped against the owners of the two vehicles.

“The erring unlicensed distributors were also forced to sign a declaration never to repeat the violation; otherwise, the vehicle involved would be impounded.”

He said a specific licence should be issued first by the government bodies concerned before practising any trade activity in the emirate. “The permit is meant to control such activities, strictly monitor them, and protect consumers’ health.”

Khalifa Maktoum, Director of the Public Health at the RAK Municipality, said intensive raids are conducted on all food and health institutions in the emirate.

“Our inspectors have recently seized large amounts of Paan, a stimulating and psychoactive preparation of betel leaf combined with areca nut and/or cured tobacco, at a grocery store here, following which the outlet was shut down, and the grocer was ordered to pay a fine.”

Paan, which is valued at Dh2,000 per kg, as per street market price, is mostly imported from Asian countries to be distributed in the local market. “However, some people here, mostly Asians, locally prepared them at home or some hideouts.”

Pann and Naswar, a kind of chewing tobacco, are banned here due to the health risks associated with their consumption. “Also since people who consume Paan and Niswar chew and spit out a reddish juice built up from eating the taboo products, several streets and building facades have been marred by their stains which are hard to remove.”

Maktoum said the drugs, containing a mixture of tobacco, some chemicals, and seeds available in southeastern countries, are very harmful to addicts’ health and cause several diseases.

“Paan and Niswar are two of the main reasons behind causing gum cancer, gastric and mouth ulcers, depression, insomnia, exhaustion, laziness and lack of concentration, and teeth discoloring.”

Meanwhile, the RAK Municipality announced that it conducted out up to 240 inspection raids across the emirate last January during which 197 tickets were issued against the erring outlets.

Khalifa Al Muhairi, Deputy Director of the Public Health Department, said our inspectors visited 1,305 outlets last month and confiscated 20kg of foodstuff deemed unfit for consumption that was destroyed later. “As many as 197 shops were found flouting food safety rules, and these were penalised according to each and every type of violation.”

“Some 36 outlets were issued warning letters, 32 were asked to sign declarations never to repeat the same violations, 73 were fined Dh72,580, a cafeteria was shut down, and 61 vehicles that were put on sale in the street were impounded,” he added.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com