Federal legislation under way on food safety

ABU DHABI // A federal law to ensure the safety of food produced locally or imported from abroad is being prepared, the Minister of the Environment announced yesterday. The law would be prepared by the ministry in co-operation with local government bodies and the private sector, Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad told WAM, the government news agency. The proposed law would integrate various measures that have already been taken, including legislation passed across the UAE, to regulate food safety, he said.

Individual emirates have been taking their own forms of action on the issue. Earlier this month the Abu Dhabi Food Countrol Authority (ADFCA) said it planned to release a list of all food shops and meat counters that were closed for food violations this year. Last month the authority reported that almost 70 eateries had been closed in the emirate since the start of the year and announced a draft law that would see restaurants and other food sellers facing much tougher sanctions for violating hygiene regulations, including possible imprisonment.

mchung@thenational.ae