New rules require online takeaway food stores to register

A new Executive Regulation requires takeaway food sellers operating fully online to move out of non-commercial venues and register with the relevant authority, the Executive Council announced recently.
The regulation will be enacted on November 15.
Currently operating takeaway food establishments should be registered with the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) before mid-May, 2022. New operations commencing after the enaction date must follow the new rules.
According to the government, the Executive Regulation was made to govern sellers who are not currently under the supervision of any local laws governing the sale of takeaway food items.
In addition, the regulation also requires takeaway food sellers to operate their businesses in venues registered or built for the preparation of food for sale. “The establishment for the operation of takeaway [food] activities cannot be installed in a property whose physical environment is obviously incompatible with the operation of such businesses,” the Executive Regulation states.
After registration with the IAM, operators must display their registration in an easily visible location in their establishment. When they run business campaigns online, they will be required to show their registration as well.
Failure to comply with the rules will result in a fine of MOP5,000 to MOP35,000 for business owners.
Lei Iam Leong, president of the Macau Catering Industry Association, is supportive of the new regulation, adding that the industry has been calling for such a system.
In the long term, he said, the registration system will help improve supervision over food safety and safeguard Macau’s name as a Creative City of Gastronomy.
Moreover, the registration system will allow the now-online takeaway establishments to apply for government support funding for small and medium enterprises.
He also recommended the requirement of insurance for food delivery workers to provide more protection for them. AL