Parliament approves draft law regulating street food carts

CAIRO – 15 May 2018: The Egyptian parliament approved on Monday a draft law to regulate the operation of food carts in Egypt. The draft law would end the problem facing governmental authorities over effective mechanisms that seek to organize this informal business.

The draft law, presented by MP Mohamed Ali Yousif, head of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) Committee in the parliament, allows the sale, preparation and cooking of food from mobile food units under a license issued by the local administration authorities and the bodies concerned with the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA).

The draft law defines mobile food units as any cart, vehicle or mobile platform whatever its form and prepared for the cooking, preparation or sale of food, beverages or others.

The draft law requires mobile food units to follow the provisions of the laws, especially with regard to maintaining the safety of their products, preventing pollution and the safe disposal of waste, without violating the rules of traffic.

It specifies the age of applicants for the license to operate the mobile food unit at 18 years old with the condition that he has not been sentenced to a criminal penalty or a misdemeanor against honor or trust unless he is rehabilitated.

The draft law also specifies the license period of not less than three years and to be renewable, and determines the technical requirements, equipment to be available in the unit according to its type. The license shall be obtained for a fee not exceeding LE5,000 per year. The draft law exempts licensed units from the profits tax for a period of three years from the date of the license.