Dubai Economy has exempted nine food trade activities from closing, provided they follow the precautionary guidelines laid out with respect to coronavirus outbreak.

According to the statement, these activities include meat, fish, fruits and vegetable trading along with roasters, mills, coffee and tea trading. “The aforementioned activities are part of the Foods sector, exempted from closing as per the earlier circular regarding restrictions during the National Disinfection Programme. “Nuts, chocolates and sweet shops are allowed to remain open only if they are located inside shopping malls,” said the statement.

Anyone working in the above-mentioned outlets will have to obtain a move permit from dxbpermit.gov.ae and Dubai Economy will be conducting inspections to ensure that these outlets are complying with the hygiene standards and social distancing guidelines laid down by the authorities.

The government has been keeping a strict vigil on commercial outlets to verify their compliances with the country’s precautionary guidelines. According to WAM, the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in Dubai Economy organised 41 inspection visits last week to major commercial outlets, which resulted in nine warnings.

Abdul Aziz Al Tannak, Director of Commercial Control Department in CCCP, said, “The inspection team visited the outlets to ensure their compliance with the precautionary measures, including ensuring that employees wore gloves and masks and shoppers maintained social distance, especially at the cash counters and waiting areas.

“They also checked whether the outlets had awareness posters on the preventive measures on display and security teams organised shoppers properly to avoid crowding.”

Consumers can report any negative practices, especially those relating to prices of basic needs, on the DED Price portal launched recently to expedite responses to consumer queries and complaints, or by calling 600 54 55 55.