Food selling outlets have become a permanent feature in our high streets.
The hectic pace of life for most of us means that we often resort to buying convenience food from takeaways, restaurants, pastizzerias and bars in the various towns and villages.
While the dietary risks of such food have to be managed by every individual, it is essential that public health issues are addressed by policymakers to avoid consumers being exposed to health and safety risks that can be easily avoided.
Some fast food outlets are a source of nuisance to neighbours who have the misfortune of being located too close to them. The amount of waste that is generated by the packaging of convenience food is substantial and this very often lands on the doorsteps of neighbours or on the pavements.
This not only constitutes a health risk as pests, including rats, scavenge to feed on discarded food but also causes a shabby atmosphere in those areas were such catering establishments abound.
The most vulnerable areas to this kind of abuse are, of course, tourist zones where visitors often complain that the usually beautiful ambience of towns and villages is ruined by the careless disposal of fast food and its packaging.
Some restaurants can also cause unnecessary inconvenience by using the domestic waste drainage system to dispose of burnt oil and other kitchen waste. Blocked drains are not so uncommon in residential areas where there are also a number of restaurants.
Proper regulations, which must be enforced, should discourage such abuse to ensure that taxpayers’ money is not used to remedy the consequences of irresponsible restaurant owners.
It is therefore very encouraging that the government has decided to review regulations that apply to the issue of permits for buildings for a wide variety of functions. These rules, it must be pointed out, were last updated 20 years ago.
It is interesting that the new regulations will look at different aspects relating to the issue of permits. For instance, in applications for outlets selling convenience foods, the regulators will be looking at various environment issues such as waste disposal, longer opening hours, traffic and increased pedestrian activity.
One hopes that hygiene issues that are linked to the preparation, display, selling and consumption of food are also included in these lists of considerations that will ultimately determine whether a permit is issued or not.
The revision of the regulations governing the issue of permits for the use of premises for different business and other activities should promote entrepreneurship while, at the same time, protect the interests of those who could be directly or indirectly affected by the operations taking place in the licensed premises.
It is not just fast food outlets that could be a cause of health and environmental risks to the public. Mechanics and carpenters who turn their home garages into workshops are undoubtedly as much of a nuisance to neighbours as takeaways that remain open late at night attracting customers, some of whom evidently having no civic pride at all.
Encouraging people to set up micro businesses by even operating from their own homes needs to be encouraged. It is crucial that, in this process, regulators adopt a pragmatic approach to encourage enterprise while, at the same time, protect the public through sensible health and safety measures, especially those connected with the food business.
In a heavily-built and overpopulated island that accommodates over one million tourists every year, mostly in the hot summer months, the enforcement of food safety regulations will always be of paramount importance.