Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Municipality's Public Health Authority is chartered to protect the safety of the public and to ensure the safety of products being sold to consumers.
The public health department inspects 149 activities that fall within its area of control. Salon, spa, gym, laundry, car repair shop, restaurant and repair shop for electrical goods and tyres fall under the authority of the Public Health Department.
With people belonging to over 150 nationalities working in various service segments of the UAE, it is the responsibility of the Authority to set laws to regulate the numerous practices while maintaining high standards of health and safety.
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News Khalifa Mohammad Al Rumaithi, Director of Public Health at the municipality explained some of the challenges, practices and policies of the Authority that help to ensure public health.
Gulf News: Beauty products are routinely destroyed or taken out of the market. Why?
KHALIFA AL RUMAITHI: The business of beauty is normally taken for granted as safe. However, it takes a big effort to keep it that way. In a city where 1,200 salons for both men and women operate, the Abu Dhabi Municipality has the responsibility of inspecting and regulating these establishments. All imported products should be approved by the Public Health Authority. Approval is granted after testing random samples and inspecting proper documentation and labelling.
Products withdrawn may be lacking the required documents, or are not labelled, have been smuggled in or are adulterated. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have the same inspection/regulations that will be unified in all emirates as of September 1.
Why would cosmetics represent a safety risk if they were already approved by the municipality?
Vendors promote sales to clear inventory as their products approach expiry dates. Women then rush to buy large quantities of frequently used products like colouring shampoos, creams, hair masks, etc, during sales and exclusive offers. As money-conscious consumers, they often continue to use the products well beyond the expiry date. This is when problems occur and we start receiving health complaints.
You are only speaking about women. How about male consumers?
The male population is less at risk in comparison to the female population. Emirati men between the ages of 18 and 45 visit their barbers three times a week but they depend on the salon for all that they do and they don't normally buy products.
What do you advise consumers when buying cosmetics?
Buyers should be cautious, check the expiry date and labels. They should also buy only what they need.
What are the risks of hair dressers offering services in their own homes?
Self-employed hair dressers do pose a significant problem for us. For example, self-made blend henna, creams, hair masks and perfumes, are a combination of chemicals that may be harmful when mixed.
Earlier this month (July 7), we found, in one of our surprise inspection campaigns, a salon and supplier preparing a large quantity of black henna. We inspected the contents and found that the salon was using petrol and diesel in addition to an unknown powder.
We sent the products to the laboratory for testing and to identify the ingredients. The violators will be taken to court, and the shop will most likely be shut down.
What is the policy for hair dressers offering hair removal laser services?
Hair removal laser is not authorised in salons and is allowed only in beauty clinics or hospitals.
Last year, we discovered a babysitter running one of these machines. In another incident, we found a lady who was secretly operating a laser machine hidden in a watchman's room.
Could you please tell us what other services are illegal in beauty salons?
Botox injections are not authorised in salons either. These injections should only be handled by specialised physicians in hospitals and clinics. A month ago we found a salon injecting Botox and silicon, and some other non-qualified people giving these injections at home.
Tattoos are not allowed in the salons as well. During inspections, we found many salons using vehicles' paint.
Fish pedicure is gaining popularity among women. Is this a healthy procedure?
Fish pedicure called "Doctor Fish Spa", where fish feed on the dead skin of the patient, is mistakenly believed to treat patients with diseases like psoriasis. This is strictly banned across the UAE as it is unsanitary and can transmit deadly diseases including HIV (Aids).
What steps is the municipality taking to ensure that beauty salons are abiding by public health safety measures?
We do two types of inspections — surprise or by appointment. We have increased our operations for day and evening shifts; and we work during holidays. We are in the process of hiring ten companies to offer, for the first time, compulsory training to all beauty salon employees. Salon owners have six months to send their employees to one of these companies for training.
What are your plans during Ramadan for Arabic tents? What are you doing this year to ensure that they are safe and healthy?
This year, the law requires a permit for tents, whether at restaurant, hotel or private homes. The tents' design should meet certain safety regulations and be approved by the Civil Defence. Tents should be 30 metres away from mosques. Additionally shisha in cafes between buildings will not be authorised as of next year.
There seems to be an increase in littering and spitting. Is there an effort to curb these acts?
Of course. Fifty violations were recorded for littering in 2009. Currently this number has increased to over 500 violations.
The authority is imposing a Dh500 fine for littering and spitting, and for barbecuing in non-authorised areas. "Paan" is a fruit flavoured tobacco that some Asians like to chew and then spit. We used to find plenty of this on the streets, now it's a little less.
Fines alone are insufficient in reducing such violations. Awareness brochures about related UAE regulations are distributed in several languages on airplanes and airport to ensure that visitors comply with safety and health regulations of the UAE.
What are the municipality's directions for slaughtering animals during Ramadan?
We call on all people to slaughter animals only at the slaughterhouse. They have experts to examine animals for diseases prior to slaughtering. Slaughtering inside the home or on the road causes diseases and brings disease-carrying insects.
