JEDDAH, 30 March 2004 — For the second week in a row, Jeddah municipality has seized a large quantity of goods in south Jeddah’s notorious Sawareekh Souk, Al-Watan reported.
A 30-man task force from the south Jeddah municipality seized and confiscated approximately eight tons of food past its sell-by date, stolen goods, and defective products being sold there.
Last week, the task force confiscated 15 tons of food past its sell-by date. The raid led to the detention of eight African nationals, only five of whom had valid work visas.
The Environmental Protection Agency at the Ministry of Municipality and Rural Affairs is responsible for enforcing food sanitation laws and guidelines. Inspectors at the municipality level monitor products already in the markets.
The authorities inspect retailers, wholesalers, restaurants, bakeries, fast-food chains, and vegetable and meat markets for sell-by dates, and sanitary storage conditions and product handling.
Outlets found selling unhygienic or expired products are liable to stiff fines, temporary closure or both.
