Is Baking/Catering Food from home allowed?? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Is Baking/Catering Food from home allowed??

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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 14:49

I see many pages coming up on FB where ladies r Baking/Catering from home. Even ladies r openly selling home baked/cooked stuff in ARTE and other markets here which is very good. I AM VERY HAPPY FOR THESE LADIES COZ THEY R DOING A WONDERFUL JOB FROM THEIR WORK THAT I C. Iv also read of telephone numbers of expert home bakers shared here on EW or do they work in Hotels. I would like to know how do they go about this legally coz iv heard of ladies being heavily fined if/when caught. Can we bake and cater from home for small gatherings or is there a proper written out law that says we cant. and are the ladies doing it just coz the authorities r ignoring this issue YET. I'm asking this question coz i too want to start Baking from home too and am pursued by family n friends. They say im being too scary but i want to be on the safer side initially and need information. Perhaps EW ladies already in the home catering business can help me and the other ladies on the forum who have the same question in mind.

if there is a legal procedure for al this whats the procedure or where do i have to contact though it would cost too much i believe.

Regards n TIA

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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 October 2011 - 12:36
the news is dated 2008
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 October 2011 - 12:02
This is what i stumbled upon in Gulf News today. http://gulfnews.com/opinions/city-talk/domestic-caterers-have-bachelors-drooling-again-1.89837
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 August 2011 - 18:48
Yes, it's unfair to any small buissnesses doing everything legally but all these regulations must stifle new buissnesses to some extent. By way of inspiration, I started collecting clippings about some now famous/rich people and found for example that the world's most influential art dealer, Larry Gagosian started off by renting a smal patio and selling paintings. Steve Jobs started making and selling apple computers from his paren'ts garage. I also have one about a lady in England whose house was about to be repossessed so she did the only thing she was good at and started making and selling cupcakes and muffins, first at fairs then supplying local cafes etc Now she's got a great business going and employs others. It really is a shame that you can't legally start small here without too much of an outlay and build up from there.
1953
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 15:55
In answer - NO. Am pretty sure that 99% of all home bakers on here do not have any form of licensing..... very unfair to those small businesses who are legal and tryign to do things by the book.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 15:36
Do all the bakers that are recommended on here from time to time for birthday cakes and cup cakes have licences and special premises for baking? I'm not asking to be antagonistic and am genuinely interested in the answer.I'd like to do a line of delicious tasting-low fat/low sugar cakes but am put off for fear of breaching any guidelines or requirements. Thanks
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 13:08
On that basis, it's amazing the whole of Greece doesn't have permanent stomach upsets ;) well, there is that... and the fact the whole human race hasn't died off due to undercooked, stored-at-room-temperature meat, but hey, 'Elf and Safety is here to protect us! ;)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 12:47
With hot food, however, I can see the issue - and it's not production hygiene, but what happens through transport and storage, because you can't easily ensure that it stays hot enough throughout the process to stop bacteria forming. Not even the seller can, unless they have invested in some decent kit. Heck, even some of the supermarkets fall down on temperature controlled transport and storage and we've all experienced the effects of something that was heated up, cooled, heated up again, kept luke warm for hours... On that basis, it's amazing the whole of Greece doesn't have permanent stomach upsets ;)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 10:59
So the municipality checks at the souk - how about where the food is prepared before it arrives there? no... but you have to consider that whatever is sold there is made in the person's own kitchen - the same one that they cook their own meals in. Also, the people who offer their own produce do it for the love of their craft and so will take extra care - if they wanted to make their fortune by it, they would have opened a shop and they certainly aren't a low-paid worker who has very little care for the end product. With hot food, however, I can see the issue - and it's not production hygiene, but what happens through transport and storage, because you can't easily ensure that it stays hot enough throughout the process to stop bacteria forming. Not even the seller can, unless they have invested in some decent kit. Heck, even some of the supermarkets fall down on temperature controlled transport and storage and we've all experienced the effects of something that was heated up, cooled, heated up again, kept luke warm for hours...
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 01:49
So the municipality checks at the souk - how about where the food is prepared before it arrives there?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 01:30
And I have to say this, I've eaten some of the baked goodies at previous ARTE soukhs and have never fallen ill... in fact, I know few others who have also eaten there without any issues. There'd have to be something really, really horrid going on if you were to get food poisoning from cakes or preserves - just in the very nature of the things, nothing really can be "off" and if say, it's a cream cake and it hasn't been stored properly, it'll look terrible, so you won't want to eat it!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 00:50
So if someone is selling stuff at ARTE, its okay........ and it doesn't matter if the person already works elsewhere, that is, is on another visa? It makes no difference? No, it doesn't matter if you're already working elsewhere, you can still sell handmade arts/crafts/baked food at ARTE without any problem. And I have to say this, I've eaten some of the baked goodies at previous ARTE soukhs and have never fallen ill... in fact, I know few others who have also eaten there without any issues.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 18:22
ARTE's license only covers baked/ preserved goods (basically nothing that needs to be sold hot). Apparently the gvmt did a spot check last year at one of the events and closed one stall down.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 15:21
So if someone is selling stuff at ARTE, its okay........ and it doesn't matter if the person already works elsewhere, that is, is on another visa? It makes no difference?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 13:21
Carrie is absolutely right regarding Selling at ARTE. They have the licence for that day covering all vendors. And the municipality also checks on the vendors regularly for hygiene etc. So no it's not illegal selling at ARTE.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 12:09
Any business technically does require a trade licence...There are various licences available from knowledge village,internet city,RAK free zone...you could even try Virtual zone or creative zone in dubai...their consultants are pretty helpful with regards to business licensing...
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 12:05
I would still say that selling at Arte Souk is techinically illegal as the premises that you are cooking in hasn't been certified - and you would be liable if someone got sick....... Bearing in mind that in recent times restaurant staff as well as Drs have been up on charges for the deaths of children in food poisoning cases, i would not necessarily be doing this.....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 12:02
If you're selling at ARTE, it's not illegal as the market gets its own licence which covers all vendors for the day and that includes food, though I believe the municipality does do spot checks to make sure that it's all hygenic and the the rules are being followed. There are specific guidelines on the ARTE website about what's required. For other sites and markets I really don't know, but if they're covered by a municipality permit, then there should be no problem. If selling from home directly to the public, then yes, a trade licence is needed and the site where the food is made would come under strict scrutiny by the municipality and a whole new can of worms could be opened. If it's an informal arrangement between friends, and no money is seen to change hands, then who is going to stop it?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 16:01
agree with Princess_I that technically it's illegal. But if you participate in the ARTE soukhs, it shouldn't be a problem. It's best you ask the managers of ARTE for more information on the "legalities" bit. Their email: [email protected]
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 12:03
Its not legal to have a business without a trade licence. Cooking and baking for family and friends is not illegal either. If I cooked for my friend and she paid me for the ingredients, cost of cooking etc in a lumpsum that should not concern any authorities. Most people only do it for friends and referred friends. technically it's still illegal.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 11:58
Its not legal to have a business without a trade licence. Cooking and baking for family and friends is not illegal either. If I cooked for my friend and she paid me for the ingredients, cost of cooking etc in a lumpsum that should not concern any authorities. Most people only do it for friends and referred friends.
1953
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 11:53
nope it's not legal.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 11:52
HMM THIS IS SURPRISING !! :) WHY IS EVERYONE TIGHT LIPPED? Ummm...because it's summer and lots of members are away? Because it's thursday and the others are busy getting into the weekend swing? Because they don't know and have nothing to add? Why SHOUTING? lol
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 11:11
HMM THIS IS SURPRISING !! :) WHY IS EVERYONE TIGHT LIPPED?
 
 

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