Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Federation of Saudi Chambers launched on Sunday the first among a series of workshops focusing on the project to develop building and operating standards for the supplies sector and supermarkets in Riyadh.

This is aimed to enable private sector establishments to develop policies that are compatible with the aspirations and needs of investors, and the standards include means for measuring and evaluating the extent of commitment and compliance by the firms on the basis of a star system.

The federation organized the workshop, in its capacity as a legal representative of the private sector. Representatives of a number of companies participated in the workshop that was organized, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing.

The workshop reviewed the standards related to the building and operation of supplies stores and central markets. It also witnessed positive understanding and flexibility from the ministry in taking the comments into consideration.

The relevant controls and standards included six basic axes, namely the legal registration of retail food establishments, the food safety plan, the food safety management system and control measures, product controls, supervisory controls on operations, and hygiene requirements in retail establishments.

It is noteworthy that the project to develop building and operation standards for the supplies and supermarkets sector aims to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and improve the level of services provided to customers by unifying the construction and operation standards for food safety, raising the level of performance and services, and facilitating the application of standards and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation.