As the Holy Month of Ramadhan is round the corner, the civic authorities have warned butcheries and others dealing in red meat to observe strict hygiene standards in view of the concerns over public health.

A source at the Muscat Municipality said that violators would be dealt with in accordance with the country’s civil penal code.

“We have instructed all the butcheries and other retail outlets dealing in foodstuff and red meat to observe high standards of hygiene failing of which would invite strict punishments in accordance with the law. Consumer Protection Law No 49/2007 criminalises anyone who attempts to cheat or defraud consumers,” he was speaking to the Observer in the wake of the recent incident in Ibra where a slaughterer of a corpse was punished with fine and warning.

The First Instance Court in Ibra has recently issued its rule against a butcher accused of trying to cheat consumers by trying to get a dead animal slaughtered, according to Article (3/a) of the Regulations under the Consumer Protection Law.

Based on Article (21) of Consumer Protection Law No 81/2002, the court sentenced him to pay a fine of RO 1,000, for trying to slay a dead ox at a place reserved to the slaughter of livestock.

The Administration of the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate received a tip off from a citizen that a man had brought to the place reserved to the slaughter of livestock the carcass of an ox and tried to convince the person in charge to slay it for him. Two of officers went to the crime scene and questioned the defendant. After being asked about the violation, he claimed that his ox was alive and died only after reaching the slaughter house, hence he dragged it to the garbage container.

What the convicted said contradicted with what the eye-witnesses, the slaughter man and some citizens, said. The two judicial officers took the legal procedures, and then the convicted was referred to the Attorney General. After investigations, the case has been forwarded to the competent court.

“We have a dedicated team of inspectors who pays lightning visits to the various butcheries across the country from time to time. If anyone is found violating the country’s rules governing public health and hygiene standards, he will be fined and warned and if the crime is of recurrent nature, he will be deported,” the source added. He also said that the various butcheries in Hamriya have been reported of violating the standards and are resorting to open slaughters which will be dealt with accordingly.