HPA to reinforce safety standards, oversee Fish Market

Health protection Agency (HPA) is to reinforce safety standards, and oversee Fish Market – amid complaints over poor hygiene.

When questioned by “Sun”, Director of HPA, Ahmed Nasir said that the authority had drawn up a draft to ensure strong safety standards in Fish Market, and were in the process of publishing it on Government Gazette.

Ahmed said that Fish Market would then be brought under the watchful eye of HPA, and that the services of Fish Market would thereafter have to be registered in accordance with standards of the authority.

“The place will then be run according to our hygiene standards. Then the place will be regularly inspected by us.

He said that HPA would takeover Fish Market within the next two months.

Management of Fish Market was outsourced to a private party while Male’ City Council had jurisdiction over it. It is still being managed by the private party.

Ahmed said that HPA had talked with the private party, and had implemented changes – even now.

The issue of people bathing and brushing their teeth inside the Fish Market came to public attention during the past week. Additional issues with hygiene noticed by “Sun” reporters include fish being placed on the ground that people walk on, and poor ventilation.