As part of early preparations for the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH, the Makkah branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, conducted a large-scale joint inspection campaign. These intensive field visits targeted public markets in the region to ensure their readiness and maintain order before the peak of the Ramadan season.
Government integration to regulate markets
These regulatory measures embody the principle of integrated work among various government agencies, with the three ministries forming unified task forces to enforce strict market oversight. Efforts focused on vegetable, fruit, meat, and fish markets, which typically experience increased activity as the holy month approaches. These thorough inspection tours resulted in the detection of 17 diverse violations, ranging from environmental and agricultural regulations to commercial ones, and others related to Saudization and labor laws.
The importance of proactive monitoring in Mecca
These campaigns are particularly important in Mecca, given the unique spatial and temporal significance of the region during Ramadan. In addition to meeting the needs of the local population, the holy city receives millions of pilgrims and visitors, significantly increasing the demand for food and consumer goods. Therefore, these proactive campaigns are crucial for ensuring the smooth flow of supplies and preventing any monopolistic practices or price manipulation that could negatively impact consumers during this anticipated surge in demand.
Details of violations and actions taken
The inspection teams clarified that the 17 violations detected included pricing violations, non-compliance with health and safety requirements, and issues related to the quality of products. All violations were addressed immediately in accordance with established regulations, and the offending establishments were required to rectify their situations to prevent recurrence. These decisive measures aim to ensure fair pricing and protect the rights of consumers, including citizens, residents, and visitors.
Continued inspections to ensure the availability of goods
For his part, the Director General of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in the Makkah region, Engineer Waleed bin Ibrahim Al-Dughais, affirmed that these inspection tours are not temporary but rather part of an ongoing action plan aimed at enhancing proactive monitoring. Al-Dughais indicated that the field teams are focusing heavily on verifying the availability and safety of food supplies and products to ensure that all needs are met during the season and to provide a safe and stable shopping environment befitting the region's status and its visitors.
These efforts reflect the keenness of the concerned authorities to raise the level of compliance in public benefit markets and improve the quality of services provided, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision objectives of improving the quality of life and ensuring sustainable food security.
