RIYADH – The Shoura Council on Tuesday started deliberations on a draft law aimed at slapping stringent penalties on shops that violate regulations with regard to public hygiene. The session was chaired by the Council President Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh. Yahya Al-Samaan, assistant president of the Council, said that the law, which has 14 articles, is complementary to the Food Law that came into force recently and the draft law to take penal actions against violations by water bottling plants that will be discussed by the Council in the near future, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to the draft law, penalties, including fine and closure for a maximum of one week, will be taken against shops that commit serious violations with regard to public hygiene. In case of repeating the violation within the year, the shop's license will be revoked and the shop will be barred from operating for two years, in addition to doubling of fine. The violation will be published in a local daily at the expense of the shop owner. Al-Samaan said fine and one week closure will be applied in case of repetition of minor violations of public hygiene. In case of repeating the violation for a third time, fine will be doubled besides closure of the shop for 30 days. Shop owners will have to display hygiene instructions on a prominent place in the shop. The information shall also carry details of the diseases that may be contracted if these instructions are not adhered to. They will also display a toll free number of municipality to intimate any violations, Al-Samaan added. The Council also started discussions on a report of the Finance Committee that recommended expediting the procedures to introduce a law to collect Zakat on commercial and vocational activities.
