A TOTAL of 14 restaurants and eateries in the Belait District were awarded with certificates yesterday upon passing the food premise assessment for food safety and cleanliness.

At an event which took place at the Belait District Municipal Office, Frattini's and Jollibee received grade 'A' for achieving between 91 and 100 per cent grade points in the inspection.

Half of the restaurants and eateries received grade 'B' in their assessment. Meanwhile, the remaining recipients were awarded certificates with grade 'C'.

Among those awarded with grade 'B' were: KFC, Restoran Nasi Ayam WYWY, Sugarbun, Serikandi Cafe & Restaurants, Hjh Asbah Restaurant and KK Koya.

A briefing on food safety and cleanliness as well as halal certification and labelling also took place in the same ceremony yesterday after the presentation of certificates.

According to a press release, the briefing was organised as part of the proactive steps undertaken by the relevant governmental agencies in promoting food safety and cleanliness for food premises.

The 233 restaurateurs under the control of the Belait District Municipal Board and 100 from the Belait District Office yesterday were also reminded to obtain their halal certification by 2014.

Under a new policy from the Ministry of Home Affairs, restaurants and food producers selling to Muslim customers in the Sultanate are required to be halal-certified or risk license termination.

The guest of honour, Hj Ishak Hj Abu Hanifah, Chairman of the Belait District and Seria Municipal Board in addition to Acting Belait District Officer, stressed in his speech on the importance of certification.

He called upon restaurateurs to take great concern in matters regarding halal verification, premise cleanliness and food safety in order to ensure optimum conditions that are disease-free.

The ceremony was organised collaboratively by the Belait District and Seria Municipal Board, Belait District Office and Syariah Affairs Department.

The Brunei Times