Sausage factory shut again for failing to meet city standards

By ZEBEDEE GIAME
A SAUSAGE factory at 2-Mile in Lae has been closed indefinitely for non-compliance to Lae City Authority food and sanitation standards.
The facility was initially shut down on April 16 after four years of operation, following complaints from residents of nearby Zero Block.
Authority health director Jonathan Ipang said inspections were carried out this week following reports of being still in operation and in defiance of the earlier order.
He said the factory was sitting on a commercial zone when it should be in an industrial zone.
“There are two things that the factory owners will have to conform to before it can go back to business,” Ipang said.
“We will confirm with the provincial lands division to verify if the location of the factory’s operation is in an industrial zone, because as far as we know, the 2-Mile suburb is a commercial area.”
Ipang said the authority had spoken to factory owners about compliance to city standards.
He also confirmed that at least two officers from the authority would be suspended following the closure of the factory.
“I want to make it clear to officers from the city’s health authority that under my watch, those who go around creating their own deals will be suspended and eventually terminated,” Ipang said.
He said the health of the people of Lae city was a big issue and officers should not be using it as leverage for personal gain.