المملكة: Urgent – New regulation of sales lanes in markets… and municipalities ban low-value food from payment lanes

Introduced Ministry of Municipalities and Housing A new draft regulatory decision aimed at preventing on the payment paths in supplies and central markets, with a proposed corrective period extending for three years.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing explained that the proposed regulation that was put forward on the “Reconnaissance” platform includes adding a paragraph within the operational requirements in the display provisions section, which prevents the display or provision of any food products on the side shelves of the payment paths, unless they are of high nutritional value.

The draft decision stressed the Necessity Defining clearly displayed foodstuffs, and writing a statement proving their high nutritional value on them.

At the same time, the Ministry pointed out that there is no objection to displaying any consumables or non-food products on the shelves of payment methods.

The proposed regulation excluded fresh vegetables and fruits from the ban, including any mixture of salads without toasted bread, without this exception including dried vegetables and fruits.

He indicated that the list of exceptions allowed to be displayed also includes mineral bottled drinking water, in addition to chewing gum and chewing gum without added sugar. The project kept the door open to include any other exceptions that may be issued later by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

The draft decision issued by the Minister of Municipalities and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, indicated that establishments subject to its provisions would be granted a corrective grace period lasting for a period of three years starting from the date of publication. This deadline comes to enable groceries, supplies, and central markets to complete the application of the updated requirements and fully comply with the provisions of the offer.

This regulatory approach is based on the recommendation of the Ministerial Committee for Health regarding all policies within the sixth food path, which included developing an executive plan to organize sales corridors. This comes in continuation of the requirements issued by the ministerial decision on the eighth of Dhul-Qi’dah of the year 1446 AH.