Jeddah Municipality: 4,000 inspection tours during Ramadan to ensure food safety
The Jeddah Governorate Municipality announced that it has intensified its field efforts in an unprecedented manner during the first ten days of the holy month of Ramadan for the current year 1447 AH, as the specialized teams carried out 4,946 visits as part of a plan of inspection tours in Ramadan aimed at ensuring food safety and raising the level of compliance with municipal requirements in various commercial and food establishments.
A seasonal strategy to keep pace with population density
These intensified efforts come in light of Jeddah's pivotal role as the main gateway to the Two Holy Mosques and a major tourist and commercial destination during the holy month of Ramadan. Historically, Jeddah experiences a significant increase in population density and the movement of visitors and pilgrims at this time of year, necessitating a full mobilization of regulatory bodies. The municipality operates according to proactive plans based on analyzing data from previous seasons to identify hotspots and the most in-demand sectors, ensuring the provision of municipal services that meet the expectations of residents and visitors and keep pace with the active economic growth.
Accurate field monitoring with numbers
Official statistics released by the municipality revealed details of the efforts undertaken, noting that 106 reports were received and addressed immediately during the same period. In the interest of public health, inspection teams collected 107 food samples for laboratory testing to ensure their suitability for human consumption. These efforts were not limited to individual visits but also included 125 joint campaigns with relevant authorities, while routine periodic visits totaled 4,608 field tours covering a wide area of the governorate.
The impact of Ramadan inspection tours on food security
These inspection campaigns are of paramount importance, extending far beyond simply detecting violations. They serve as a safeguard for public health, especially given the increased demand for restaurants and food outlets during Ramadan. This intensive field presence contributes to bolstering consumer confidence—whether citizens, residents, or visitors—in the quality of food products. Furthermore, these efforts play a vital role in enhancing the city's urban landscape by combating negative phenomena such as unregulated street vending, which positively impacts the investment climate and ensures fair competition among licensed establishments that adhere to regulations.
Key challenges and observed violations
The inspection tours covered waterfronts, main roads and thoroughfares, shopping centers, and establishments experiencing seasonal activity such as fish markets, date and sweets shops, and butcher shops. The municipality identified several violations, most notably operating without a municipal license, employing workers without health certificates proving they were free of disease, and failing to display the unified electronic code (QR code). In a related matter, the municipality intensified its efforts to track down street vendors, remove unauthorized stalls, and take legal action against violating establishments.
The Jeddah Municipality renewed its call for residents and visitors to participate in social responsibility by reporting any municipal violations through the "Baladi" application or by contacting the unified reporting service center 940, stressing its continued implementation of regulations to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all.
