Restaurants and cafes in Moscow will be the first to receive stars from regulators

The Ministry of Economic Development is launching a pilot project, during which the capital's catering will begin to receive a public assessment. This was stated by Alexander Vdovin, Director of the Department of state Policy in the field of licensing, control and supervisory activities, accreditation and self-regulation of the department, speaking at the Food Safety conference.

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They will identify the shortcomings and suggest that the institutions improve.

In practice, the supervisory authorities will check how the cafe or restaurant complies with all regulatory requirements, and it will be possible to get an assessment based on the results of scheduled inspections or preventive visits, the agency added to Izvestia. Those who perform them will be given a high score. Such establishments will be able to place stars or smiley faces on their facades, which will indicate the quality of food there. Such marks will cause consumers to have more confidence in such catering outlets, Alexander Vdovin added.

The authorities will also create an electronic rating of establishments that will help people navigate the gastronomic map of Moscow. The Izvestia department did not specify which cities, besides the capital, will take part in the experiment and when exactly it will start — officials are still discussing these points. In the future, such a system may be extended to hotels and social institutions, such as schools.

The official also noted that in December 2024, the MAYOR had already legalized the mechanism of public assessment, consolidating this provision in Federal Law No. 248-FZ "On State Control." The agency's specialists are currently developing by-laws that will specify all the details of this project. Alexander Vdovin also mentioned that this approach is actively used abroad: in parts of Europe and Asia. For example, in the UK, catering establishments are checked by inspectors online.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

A star by name: regulators will mark restaurants and cafes in Moscow