Abu Dhabi: Food authorities said they were sounding views of businesses and consumers ahead of bringing into effect new regulations on food safety that could see restaurant operators face imprisonment for repeat offences.

“We don’t want to continue the role of policing and instead we engage our stakeholders in the private sector to share responsibility for food hygiene,” said Dr Maryam Harib Sultan Al Yousuf, executive manager of policy and regulation sector at the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA).

She was talking at a workshop on regulation no.6 of 2010 concerning food hygiene throughout the food chain, including primary production, processing, preparing, manufacturing, packing, transporting, storing, distribution, displaying, servicing and selling food to consumers.

“By this approach we create more responsible partners and receive less resistance to the new food guidelines,” Dr Maryam told the workshop held at Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Indistry on Wednesday.

Since November, the draft regulation was posted on the ADFCA’s website for comment from business owners and consumers.

Dr Maryam said the process of seeking opinions from concerned businesses and individuals while legislation is being crafted was a first for the UAE.

As the consultation period is over, ADFCA, which has the authority to unilaterally issue regulations and bylaws relating to food safety, will finalise the law in preparation for it to be signed by the authority’s board.

“Food businesses will then be given a grace period of six months to adjust their legal status and meet the legal requirements,” Dr Maryam said.

Representatives of food businesses said the consultation was of use for both the food authorities and businesses.

“Interaction between food businesses and the officials is useful because we can exchange views with regards to the new guidelines, especially ahead of enforcing these new initiatives,” said Roula Hakim, hygiene and food safety manager at Le Meridien Abu Dhabi.

The regulation gives more freedom to food businesses to adopt what they deem appropriate in many areas, but holds them responsible for failure to protect consumers’ health.

Last year, ADFCA said its inspectors had temporarily shut down 76 restaurants and groceries in the emirate over the 12 months.

They conducted more than 60,000 spot checks in restaurants, groceries, meat counters and hotel eateries. They handed out almost 15,000 warnings and 800 fines.

The food authority has a three-tier system to punish food-safety offenders. Warnings come first, and repeat violators are fined and then closed if they fail to address the authority’s concerns.

The authority, which continues to name and shame offenders, says fear of exposure in the media has been a factor in merchants’ cleaning up their businesses.