Ensuring highest level of food safety in the country, Qatar is set to implement the GCC Guide on Control of Imported Food from next month.
The regulations which will classify food items according to their potential to transmit food borne diseases, will be made mandatory by October 2017, the Ministry of Public Health said yesterday.
The new system is based on the common goal GCC nations to have an integrated and harmonised import inspection and certification system which is human health risk-based.
Commodities included in the new guideline include products for human consumption as meat and meat products, milk and milk products, seafood, eggs and egg products, processed food, assorted food products and honey and bee products.
Based on the GCC guide, all imported food will be subjected to health control at the point of entry to ensure that food complies with the GCC technical regulations and requirements. Exporting countries should provide the assurance as documentation and certification.
“The guide includes the most important technical principles for imported food control, before releasing them for consumption in the domestic market. The guide is scheduled to be implemented uniformly in all the GCC countries,” said Wassan Abdullah Al Baker, Director of Food Safety and Environmental Health Department , at the Ministry of Public Health.
The system is mainly based on application of risk-based food control method. Foods will be classified according to their potential to transmit food borne disease rather than their intended end use. Food will be classified into three general categories: high, medium or low potential risk to human health. Consignments will also need health certificates according to the relevant requirements.
The system will also help competent authorities of the GCC countries in the identification and risk management of new or emerging hazards in the food supply. The guide also gives details on inspection and clearance of imported foods, which includes details on detention and temporary release of consignments. As per the guide, port-of-entry inspection under the risk-based food control system includes checks on certification from exporting country and import inspection requirements for all consignments of foods. Inspections will also include document checks, physical examination, Product Identity Checks and sampling. It will also verify the quality assurance systems operated by importers when they submit official requirements.
The guide also details regulations on foods imported for non-commercial purposes and food prohibited from importation on food safety ground. It also details out prohibition of importation of foods on sanitary grounds to protect the life and health of humans, animals, plants and the environment. The new regulation is being applied based on the findings of the GCC Food Safety Committee meeting which was held in Riyadh in March. The meeting discussed a number of issues including the GCC imported food guide and GCC food strategy 2018-2022.
