The “Registration System for Retail Establishments of Fresh and Live Food" officially came into effect on 1 February. In the first week of the new regulation being in force, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has issued registration certificates to 370 retail establishments of fresh and live food, and carried out more than 110 rounds of inspections of and visits to the establishments for checking their overall hygiene conditions and giving suggestions for rectification to ensure the safety and stable supply of retail fresh and live food on the market by the Chinese New Year's eve.
Suggestions for rectification alongside re-inspections
Since the regulation has come into effect, IAM has issued a total of 370 registration certificates to retail establishments of fresh and live food, of which 365 are converted from old licenses to registration certificates and 5 are for registration of commencement of business. IAM continues to strengthen hygiene inspections of retail establishments of fresh and live food, inspects the hygiene conditions, facilities and equipment of the establishments, and assists the establishments in making improvements to comply with regulatory requirements. Since the regulation has come into effect, IAM has carried out more than 110 rounds of inspections of and visits to retail establishments of fresh and live food. In addition to checking the overall hygiene conditions of the establishments, IAM has also carried out targeted inspections on their operating conditions and sewage systems. Problems found during the inspections mainly included placement of goods for display outside the premises by some vegetable establishments, improper sewage treatment during moving or transport process by establishments of fish catch. The inspection staff have required rectification by the relevant establishments. All of them are found to have made improvements during IAM's re-inspection.
Failure to comply with operational requirements may result in penalties
IAM reminds operators that the registration system is simple and that they must submit a registration application before commencement of business, i.e. the establishment can only be open to the public after obtaining a registration certificate. Opening business to the public without completing the registration in accordance with the requirements may constitute an administrative infringement. Meanwhile, the relevant establishments must meet relevant operating conditions to ensure food safety and hygiene, including requirements for equipment, facilities, food safety, on-site hygiene, partition layout, etc. Violations of operating conditions may result in a fine of between MOP 15,000 and 35,000. IAM will continue to ensure that retail establishments of fresh and live food comply with legal and regulatory requirements through inspections and law enforcement work.
Registration information required to be displayed to the public
In addition, when a retail establishment of fresh and live food holding a registration certificate changes the name of the establishment or the type or category of food for sale, it is required to submit an application for change of registration to IAM. After obtaining the registration certificate, businesses are required to post their registration certificate in a conspicuous place on the premises. If the Internet or social platforms are used for promotion purposes, the registered information must also be uploaded to each of the online platforms. If a third-party online food trading platform is used as an operation or communication medium, the registration certificate must be provided to the platform. Third-party online food trading platforms are also responsible for ensuring that the businesses listed on their platforms have completed registration and display establishment registration number and other information on the platforms for consumers to identify. Otherwise, they are subject to a fine of MOP 5,000.
IAM has set up a dedicated webpage about the “Registration System for Retail Establishments of Fresh and Live Food" on the Food Safety Information website www.foodsafety.gov.mo to provide details of relevant administrative regulation, application formalities, operational guidelines, etc. for public view.
