RIYADH – Grocery stores and supermarkets have been given a 24-month grace period to comply with new municipal conditions. These conditions have been approved by the Acting Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi. The list of conditions in the bylaw stipulates that the building should be compliant with the requirements of all licenses, in line with the Saudi Building Code. The facades of the grocery stores should be fitted fully with transparent glass allowing clear vision from within and without the grocery store. The same conditions apply to similar facilities. The bylaw states that all the rules and regulations in force on using trade marks in Saudi Arabia should be implemented such that it allows practicing the activity without any obstacles or crowding heavy machinery, equipment or workers. Operations in the grocery shop ought to be smooth and streamlined. The store should be allocated for the activity of selling packed foodstuff, body care devices, detergents, disinfectants and their tools, plastic and paper products. The ministry pointed out that in the case of the existence of a registered trade mark for the shop, then the size of the signboard should suit the external façade, with a height of at least 80 cm and width of at least 300 cm. However, the signboard must not exceed the shop's façade. The shop's signboard should include the name of the enterprise as mentioned in the commercial register as well as the commercial register number. In case where there is no registered trademark for the shop, the signboard should be in conformity with the design and visual identity such that there is harmony in colors, font type and size and the unified trademark. Use of anything to attract attention and not in conformity with the specifications or introducing any change in the place, dimensions, and the approved design sizes is banned. The recent conditions include dealing with the lack of harmony in the signboards causing a visual disfigurement. Therefore, the ministry has said that signboards of shops should be uniform. The ministry has stressed that all the workers should wear a unified uniform, with the name of the firm clearly mentioned on it. Workers in foodstuff sections and products related to public health must wear their health certificate on the uniform while on duty. These updated conditions have been prepared in cooperation with various government authorities. They aim to organize the sector and raise its standard by improving the service provided to the customers. This is by specifying the conditions for unified design, operation and licensing of grocery stores.
