44 herbal and nutritional supplement shops fined in Sharjah

Director of the Public Health Department at Sharjah Municipality, Shaza Al Mualla, said that the Public Health Department teams violated 44 shops selling medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements during field inspections carried out by the department during the past year, noting that the violations varied between selling unregistered and prohibited nutritional supplements, or making herbal mixtures without a license, and some violations related to cleanliness and the lack of a health card for workers.

Al-Mualla explained to “Emarat Al-Youm” that the procedures and penalties taken by the department against violators are based on the approved penalty list, with clarification of corrective plans for violators, so that they adhere to the required health requirements. Communication is also made with other official authorities if violations are detected.

She pointed out that “the health requirements required to be available in the facilities are diverse, including those specific to the facility building, such as cleanliness, ventilation, adequate lighting, providing appropriate means for storing the displayed materials, and providing a fully equipped first aid box.”

She added that among the violations detected were those related to workers, such as personal hygiene, providing valid occupational health cards, and vaccination cards against viral hepatitis, and some related to the documents required to be available in the facility, such as a copy of the commercial license and a record of field visits to the facility.

Al-Mualla stated that the nutritional supplements offered for sale in stores must be registered with the Ministry of Health. It is also prohibited to make any herbal mixtures in the facility, and to sell only raw herbs or oils. It is also prohibited to sell pharmaceutical preparations or display prohibited herbs, with proper storage of the displayed materials and adherence to the licensed activity.

She pointed out that the requirements for obtaining a license for herbal and nutritional supplement shops are adherence to the required spaces, and the readiness of the building to practice the activity in terms of lighting, ventilation, tools, storage shelves, and others.

Regarding the department’s role towards workers and occupational health cards, Al-Mualla confirmed that workers in the facility are obligated to provide valid occupational health cards, noting that the role of the Public Health Department in the municipality is to follow up on health facilities that fall within its scope of supervision to determine the extent of their commitment to the established health requirements, and to take appropriate measures to correct the status of violating facilities. The department also undertakes to issue initial and final approvals for facilities under licensing, and then follow up on them during periodic inspections.

She explained that shops selling herbs and healthy foods are among the activities subject to the supervision and licensing of the Health Control Department, and the inspection process is carried out periodically according to specific standards that represent the required health requirements. Communication is also made with those in charge of these facilities through advertisements and the field visit log issued by the municipality.