Food imports without labels detailing the nutritional content of the item are banned from entering Qatar, the country’s health ministry announced earlier this month.
The move comes seven months after Qatar adopted GSO 9:2013, a Gulf-wide regulation regarding prepackaged foodstuffs, reported Doha News.
Importers were given a grace period to meet the new rules, which took effect Jan. 1, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) said in a statement.
During the first phase of implementation, the nutrition labels must be in English but eventually they will need to be in Arabic as well.
These labels need to include the number of calories in a serving and the ingredients, which will help promote healthy eating, according to MOPH.
Exceptions to the new rule include ingredients imported by businesses for use in kitchens and manufacturing, as well as fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and fish that are imported as non-packaged items for sale.
Small pre-packaged food items (not exceeding 20cm2), water in any kind of packaging; and food items imported for non-commercial use also do not need to adhere to the new labelling rule.
Elsewhere in the GCC, other authorities are making moves to address health and obesity concerns. Last week, HotelierMiddleEast.com reported that Dubai Government is considering a requirement for F&B outlets to print calorie information on their menus.
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