Keeping an eye on what you eat The Food Control and Inspection Department (FCID) at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning (MMAUP) is implementing a strict day-to-day surveillance on eateries and various whole and retail food outlets during the Holy month of Ramadan. This was announced during a press conference held yesterday at the Ministry's headquarters. Speaking on the occasion, Engineer Khalid Abdurahman Al Saad, FCID's Director said that this year's food inspection campaign has two components, media and inspection campaign. "As food safety is crucial to public life and health, the Department has reviewed and upgraded the food safety laws and standard operational policies and procedures, and implementation and monitoring strategies according to international food safety standards." This was accomplished in collaboration with an international company that has signed a deal with MMAUP recently. Inspectors will be equipped with newly introduced devices enabling testing and verifying food fitness such as oil, meat quality and temperature on the spot without the need of taking samples to laboratories. The new surveillance system that has been installed this year has the ability of tracing inspection activities via GPS. It also composes of a electronic link that records the notification issued by inspectors automatically against violating outlets. The new system reduces lots of paper works and it can both follow up inspectors and creates centralised data base, said the official. The work plan for the Holy month was ratified by the MMAUP's Minister H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani following a meeting held on Sunday. The official admitted that the Department was suffering severe shortage of qualified inspectors. To resolve this, the Ministry in collaboration with Qatar University has funded three-year diploma programme on food science. With the graduation of the first batch next year, this problem will be solved for ever said the Director. Inspection rounds on restaurants, small eateries, food stores, shopping centres and fruit and vegetable shops will be conducted on three shifts daily. The Department will intensify its inspection activities during and after iftar. Media and the public have a crucial role in making the food inspection campaign a success. "We urge every citizen and resident to report any violation to the hotline that will be announced soon," Al Saad said. The Pen

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