Compliance of food transport vehicles in Dubai has improved significantly in the last 12 months according to an inspection campaign carried out by Dubai Municipality's Food Safety Department in cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority, RTA and Dubai Police.
Local news outlet, Gulf News, reported the campaign, which coincided with the GCC Food Safety Week, was organised to ensure vehicles comply with the Food Safety Department's requirements to transport food in a safe and hygienic condition.
Of the 487 inspections carried out, 54 vehicles were seized for violating regulations and guidelines for the safe and hygienic transport of dry, chilled and frozen foodstuff, resulting in a 90 per cent compliance rate.
Sultan Ali Al Taher, head of Food Inspection Section, who headed the team responsible for following up and implementing the guidelines for safe transport of food, told the newspaper there has been an increase of 15 per cent in compliance ratio than the similar campaign last year, which noted 75 per cent out of 500 vehicles as compliant.
Al Taher said the positive result of the campaign was that many of the violating food transport companies responded immediately so as to get their vehicles approved within the required specifications and standards, the newspaper reported.
Al Taher explained to Gulf News that the Food Inspection Section will conduct periodic campaigns until 100 per cent compliance is ensured from all transport companies.