RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb 15: In a bid to enhance food safety standards, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipalities has proposed new regulations that aim to improve hygiene in central kitchens serving restaurants and households. Under the draft law, central kitchens will be prohibited from using wooden boards or knives with wooden handles for cutting meat, poultry, and fish. Instead, these utensils must be replaced with food-safe materials like plastic, which are easier to clean and sanitize.

The draft law also mandates that central kitchens designate specific areas for food preparation. These areas must be restricted to food handling only and must be visible to service recipients. The kitchens will be required to separate food preparation zones with transparent glass, and in some cases, cameras and screens will be used to monitor activities, according to reports from the Saudi newspaper Okaz.

A critical part of the proposal involves establishing a designated space for handling uncooked food, designed to ensure that food operations flow in a single direction. This method—starting from receiving, storing, preparing, and cooking, to packaging and distribution—is designed to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Additionally, the draft law stipulates that any leftover food that has been previously served or sold must not be reused. Instead, restaurants and central kitchens will be required to collaborate with licensed food preservation groups to redistribute surplus food, reducing food waste.

The proposed regulations also aim to tighten food safety enforcement in Saudi Arabia. Food facilities with cats or dogs on-site could face fines of up to SR2,000 under the new rules. Furthermore, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has proposed severe penalties for establishments operating without a municipal license, including fines of up to SR50,000. For repeat offenders, the fine could be doubled.

These proposed measures reflect Saudi Arabia's ongoing commitment to improving food safety standards and ensuring that its food industry meets the highest hygiene requirements. The new laws are part of broader efforts by the SFDA to update food-related regulations and impose financial penalties that align with the severity of the violations.