Barcelona City Council found 242 violations across 23 round-the-clock supermarkets and other food shops in the Gràcia district during a joint inspection on October 29. The operation, carried out under the Pla Endreça, involved around 100 personnel from several agencies and resulted in 11 precautionary closures.
The violations included 99 related to business licences, 52 involving urban landscape rules, 23 concerning public health and another 23 relating to waste management. Inspectors also recorded five breaches involving use of public space, 10 related to labour and Social Security rules, 15 involving municipal taxes and 15 concerning state taxes.
The city said nine premises had electrical supply irregularities or suspected electricity fraud. Pest infestations were found at three establishments. The account did not specify how these findings corresponded to the 11 closures.
First Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet said the businesses affected neighbourhood life and put pressure on local shops by accumulating violations. She said the municipal government had suspended licences for new establishments of this type before the summer and would continue to take a firm approach, citing concerns about coexistence and safety.
The operation included the Guardia Urbana, municipal inspection services, the Barcelona Public Health Agency, the Catalan government’s Labour Inspectorate, the Municipal Tax Institute, the tax agency, Endesa and the National Police, among other bodies.
It was the 17th joint inspection launched by the city during the current municipal term under the Pla Endreça and its comprehensive inspection plan. Since November 2023, the council says it has inspected 682 businesses through these operations, identifying 5,097 violations and imposing 110 precautionary measures, including confiscations and premises being sealed. More than 1,200 personnel have taken part in inspections across Barcelona’s districts.
Sources: El País Portada.