Egypt's parliament reveals public shop licensing requirements

Following a controversy involving the "Balaban" chain, the head of the Housing Committee in the House of Representatives revealed licensing requirements for public shops. The committee chairman, Mohamed Attia El-Fioumy, stated that 122 unlicensed "Balaban" branches are the responsibility of local authorities, while factories fall under industrial development. He explained that shops receive warnings before closure, except when food safety tests reveal immediate health risks. El-Fioumy noted that if "Balaban" applied for licenses, the local authorities are responsible for delays. If not, the company is at fault. The investigation will determine if the factory or branches are the source of any health issues.