Food truck operators could be banned from Manama until designated areas are set aside for them.

New rules that came into effect in 2016 allowed caterers to launch mobile units, providing they secured the proper authorisation.

The Capital Trustees Board says it is aware of unlicensed vehicles being launched by owners trying to jump on the food truck bandwagon.

However, its chairman Mohammed Al Khozaie also accused legitimate operators of failing to secure relevant municipal approvals.

Violations

“Individuals could be licensed to have food trucks under the new rules, but not municipal licences to operate as street vendors – which have to be secured through the Capital Trustees Authority or Bahrain’s three other municipal bodies,” explained Mr Al Khozaie.

“The reason for needing municipal permission is because not everyone can just park their truck, put out chairs and call in crowds.

“The place could be government or privately owned, while there are the issues of obstructing traffic and noise.”

As a result he said owners of both licensed and unlicensed food trucks would be asked to halt their activities in Manama until dedicated areas were chosen for them.

Mr Al Khozaie claimed success in tackling illegal street vendors was being undermined by the arrival of food trucks.

“A clampdown by municipal inspectors is imminent in the next few days, as we clear places of licensed and unlicensed trucks until the Cabinet issues an edict on authorised locations,” he said.

“Illegal street vendors are complaining that we ban them, despite them applying for licences, and now food trucks have taken their place – with chairs set up in the street and crowds sitting in the middle of the road, as if it was a restaurant.

“We want things organised for the good of everyone.

“We also fear that unsafe, unhygienic or unclean food may be served without proper monitoring.”

Anticipating an angry reaction from legitimate food truck operators, Mr Al Khozaie denied the intention was to hinder business.

“It is not that I want to ban people from having a business, but what’s going on is wrong and has to be corrected,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said inspectors would be monitoring food trucks to identify those operating with no licence at all.

“Licensing them (food trucks) has also allowed non-licensed food trucks to surface, which is unfortunate since people can’t spot the difference,” he said.

“Anyone can put up a sign saying they are licensed.”

The GDN reported in February that 48 Commercial Registration (CR) holders were looking to set up their own mobile dining operation.

Of those 19 were active, while 29 others were awaiting approval from relevant bodies.

Permission has been granted for food trucks to operate even if they do not belong to an established restaurant.

However, Mr Al Khozaie argued that more regulation was needed.

“It is no good for concerned authorities to do half the job and then leave the organisational part unattended, giving the excuse that such trucks give a nicer image of Bahrain in terms of tourism,” he said.

Ministry officials could not be reached for comment.

mohammed@gdn.com.bh

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