March 31 deadline for city food outlets to register with CMC

By Franklin R. Satyapalan

The Chief Medical Officer of Health, of the Colombo Municipality, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam yesterday instructed all food establishments in the city of Colombo to register themselves before the deadline of March 31 and obtain their Trade licences.

"Legal action will be instituted against those who do not register in time and as a last resort, closure orders will be brought against those establishments," he said.

In future all food establishments would have to display the number of workers employed by them. One cannot employ unregistered workers and those who have not undergone a medical examination, he said.

"Last year around 900 food establishments registered themselves along with 290 eateries. Those who registered last year need not obtain forms to re-register themselves, they only need to inform us for the PHIs to visit their establishments to renew their licences," the Chief Medical Officer of Health said.

To obtain a Trade Licence, one would have to pay a maximum of Rupees 5,000. Firstly an owner of food establishment should obtain a form from the Health Section of the Colombo Municipal Council, thereafter obtain the Environmental Protection Licence, establish that he obtained water from the main line and not from a tube well.

He said adding that after complying with the above requirements, the establishment should get its workers examined by the MOH of the area and forward the application with samples of food to be sent to the Lab for examination and report.

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