Muscat Governorate, representing its municipal sector, pays attention to activities relevant to public health. Municipal Decision No. 219/2019 was issued to ensure the quality of services relevant to public health and protect the consumers` health. The decree includes strict health requirements, distributed in 92 legal articles consisting of 19chapters, to cover various commercial and service activities.
Multiple Activities:
The regulation includes health requirements of several commercial and service activities, including men`s barbering, women`s hairdressing and beauty, health clubs, street vendors, laundries, hotels, vehicles cleaning, and labour camps. The regulation focuses on organising the vehicles transporting non-drinkable water, and small industrial shops.
General Requirements:
Chapter 1 of the regulation requires submitting a detailed engineering plan of any commercial activity before starting it. It includes details of areas and approvals from the relevant entities, and the building design requirements regarding electricity, water and sanitary facilities. As well as, safety and health terms for workers and their residences, if available. It is prohibited to include any new activity or facilities without prior approval from the municipality.
Men`s Barbering:
Chapter 2addresses the health requirements for men`s barbering activity, including necessary tools, customer waiting area guidelines, and sanitary facilities. It is prohibited to provide services or perform operations without a license.
Men`s Grooming Centers:
Chapter 3 specifies the conditions for men`s grooming centers, including waiting rooms with specific standards, and special facilities for hair and skin care. It requires all staff to have a health certificate or license and prohibits offering unlicensed services.
Women`s Hairdressing and Beauty Centers:
Chapters 4 and 5 outline the health stipulations for women`s hairdressing and beauty centers. For example, requirements for interior and exterior facilities, tools and quality assurance. It also prohibits offering unauthorized medical services or selling unlicensed items.
Mobile Women`s Salon:
Chapter 6 legalizes the mobile women`s salon activity, with vehicle specifications and health and security requirements to be fulfilled. It is illegal to provide unlicensed therapeutic or health services.
Fitness Centers and Health Clubs:
Chapters 7 and 8 discuss health requirements for fitness centers and health clubs, including basic facilities such as changing rooms and first aid kits. It bans selling medicines and nutritional supplements or providing physiotherapy services without a permit.
Hookah Cafes:
Chapter 9 regulates hookah cafes, specifying the location, working hours, and allowed age groups. It prohibits offering hookah in public gardens, parks and beaches.
Street Vendors:
Chapter 10 addresses sanitary requirements of street vendors` activities, including required license, commitment to the specified distances and permitted number in each wilayat.
Various Activities:
In successive chapters, health requirements for various activities such as leather tanning, transporting non-drinkable water, laundries, and labour camps are covered. This regulation states that appropriate sanitary facilities and medical care in labour camps are essential.
Response and Cooperation:
Muscat Governorate, representing Muscat Municipality, calls on all citizens and residents to cooperate with there levant entities and report violations via the Muscat Communications Centre(1111). It highlights the commitment to health and environmental terms to ensure that activities continue in a secure and healthy place for both workers and beneficiaries. Through the National Platform for Suggestions, Complaints and Reports (Tajawob), it commits to interact with the received proposals, as it is a national/ /qualitative platform, reflecting the government`s commitment to strengthen community partnership and effective communication efficiently and transparently.