Dubai: Dubai Municipality has fined hundreds of food transport vehicles for breaking rules in a new inspection crackdown this week.
At least 365 vehicles were fined between Sunday and Monday by a special inspections team during a check on 1,100 vehicles at the Al Aweer Fruits and Vegetables Market.
The crackdown, which ends on Thursday, will continue in other areas soon.
Violations included transporting perishables without chillers or freezers, lacking permits and using open-air storage space in the back of pick-up trucks.
Food transport must comply with specific municipality rules for frozen, fresh, dried and cooked products, apart from general licensing, standards and permits of Dubai Police and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The inspection drive also saw the participation of the police and RTA this week. The municipality did not specify the amount of fines in a statement on Tuesday.
The team, led by food inspections head Sultan Al Tahir, is tasked to ensure vehicles are transporting food in a safe, legal and hygienic way in the interest of public health.
Al Tahir said the ongoing and planned inspections will push transporters to follow rules. The majority of vehicles are compliant but even a small percentage of violations is not acceptable, he added.
Al Tahir said the campaign will continue until violations are virtually non-existent.
Food transport is a crucial component in the “farm-to-fork” food supply management chain.
