SATMC Suspends Operations of Two Public Catering Establishments for 168 Hours

Today, the specialists of the Food Safety Inspection Body of the Republic of Armenia have suspended the operations of two public catering establishments operating in Yerevan, namely 'Armen Huka' and 'Huka Place', for a period of 168 hours, or one week. This is the first time that such a lengthy suspension has been implemented by the Inspection Body.

These operators not only ignored the ban on the use of hookahs set by the decision of the RA Prime Minister but also violated the directive to cease operations for 72 hours, reopening their establishments and continuing to operate during the suspension period.

Additionally, in Yerevan, the SATMC has suspended another public catering facility for 72 hours due to repeated violations where the required distance of 1.5-2 meters between tables and seated patrons was not maintained; the temperature logbooks were inadequately filled; and not all necessary locations had closed bins for masks and gloves. They also served hookah, which is prohibited.

Due to negligence and repeated violations, the operations of the public catering segment of 'Gntunik' LLC in the town of Aparan in the Aragatsotn Province have been suspended for 48 hours for a second time. There were shortcomings in temperature checks upon customer entrance and allowed human congestion without maintaining the required distance.

Furthermore, today, operations of nearly thirty operators within the food chain have been suspended for 24 hours across the country. SATMC inspectors have continued ongoing monitoring in all provinces of the republic, including the capital. In Yerevan, targeted inspections focused on food chain organizations in the Malatia-Sebastia administrative district. The notes on the detected violations will serve as a basis for the enforcement of penalties by the commandant's office.

Due to the state of emergency, the SATMC provides operators with the necessary consultations and instructions daily to effectively combat the coronavirus (Covid-19).