Inspectors from the Portuguese Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE) will be authorised to carry a firearm for safety reasons as of September 1.
The new regulations apply to inspectors and to heads of inspection services within ASAE.
According to the decree-law, among the functions carried out by ASAE is the inspection of establishments carrying out economic activities, food hygiene standards, the prevention of monopolistic practices, and combating parallel economies and illicit gaming.
Due to the nature of their job, inspectors say their security is often at risk, which led to the measure.
