Portugal’s much feared Food and Economic Security Authority, ASAE, has ended its indifference to the Alojamento Local short-term tourist rental sector with a swoop on 610 registered AL businesses.
Three tourist accommodation units have been closed down due to an appalling lack of food hygiene, fines have been issued to others.
ASAE has started 111 processes against businesses and individual owners for breaking one or more of the applicable laws and has initiated criminal proceedings against three businesses harbouring rotten food.
Inspections were carried out in July and into August at tourist developments and registered local accommodation units, leaving out those unregistered businesses that still operate under the radar.
In a statement released on Monday, ASAE said that 610 operators of tourist developments and local accommodation units throughout the country were checked out
Among the various infringements was a lack of records, violations of the rules covering identification and publicity, and failures to comply with other more general requirements applicable to these establishments.
ASAE also found failures in businesses meeting hygiene requirements and some lacked the all-important complaints book. Some businesses also had failed to send customer complaints to the competent authority within the stipulated 15-day period.
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For property owners seeking information on Alojamento Local compliance, contact the National Association of Local Lodging Establishments at www.nalle.pt and/or ask afpop
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