An increase in fine from $50 to $10,000 is being proposed for all restaurants to comply with the Food Establishment Grading Regulation.
In the proposed Regulation, any breach by a restaurant owner would result in a $10 000 fine or five years imprisonment and if the offender belonged to a cooperative body than they face a $50,000 spot fine or 10 year imprisonment.
However, Acting Head of the Food Unit, Samuela Bolalailai revealed that in the past, any breaches by restaurant owners would result in fines between $20 to $50.
Bolalailai said at the end of the day, it is the customers that suffer and to ensure that they are treated fairly, lessons have to be taught.
Under the proposed regulation, restaurants or any place that sells food will be checked by health inspectors and then be given grades from A to D.
A draft has been put together awaiting feedback before Cabinet approval.
The Regulation is expected to be in place by sometime next year.
Story by: Paradise Tudrau
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$10,000 fine proposed for restaurants failing to comply with new grading regulation
