Twenty five food outlets shut down following inspection

Twenty five food service establishments in Male' area have been closed following inspections by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), Male' City Council and the Housing Development Corporation.

A city council media official told Mihaaru News that the outlets were shut down till yesterday for violations ranging from poor hygiene to operating without the required permits. Cafe's, restaurants, takeaway services and snack shops were among those closed down.

During the inspections, notices were posted outside the closed outlets, stating the reasons for the shutdown.

Under the Food Safety Act, food service providers are required to register with the MFDA. Inspections found a number of unregistered establishments, which were also ordered to cease operations.

MFDA has formally instructed the outlets to stop providing services without proper licenses.

Previous inspections by the Health Protection Agency and other authorities have uncovered similar problems leading to enforcement measures.