São Paulo – Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health has determined that packaged food sold in the country have to display the nutrition facts of the products in labels. The data, which up until now was optional, is now required by law since the first day of the month. The information is from Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The new norms were established by a document issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization (GSO), responsible for regulations and norms for food packages in Gulf countries such as Qatar.
According to the document, the data are required in prepackaged food for direct consumption or after heating. The labels should bring nutritional facts regarding carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fibers, vitamins, minerals and calories, among others.
Regarding the language, for now it’s still possible to sell packaged food with information only in English. However, the norm says that, after the implementation phase of the new rules, which has not been given a date for conclusion yet, the food packages should have all the information in Arabic also.
According to Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty), the shipment of food with labels without information in Arabic will only be approved after the placement of nutritional facts stickers, which will be done under the supervision of the Food Safety and Environmental Health Department of Qatar.
“The packaging should have data on the presence of gluten and all the details on what could be harmful to human health,” added Michel Alaby, CEO of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
The executive says that Brazilian companies that export to Qatar already place this information in their labels. “It would be good if the new exporting [to this country] companies were aware of the new measures,” he says.
To him, the inclusion of additional data in the food sold in the country could also mean a competitive advantage in Qatar’s market. “This could be an advantage for the companies that perhaps have halal products,” he adds.
Alaby also points out to the importance of having information in Arabic in the labels. “Those who have [data] in Arabic are already in compliance with what’s being required [later],” he says.
Some items are exempt from the new norms, such as food imported by services companies to be used in commercial kitchens and manufacturing; fresh vegetables and fruits; fresh meat and fish imported to be sold as non-packaged items; packaged foodstuffs with small labels (with label size not exceeding 20 square centimeters); water in any type of packaging; and imported foodstuffs destined to commercial establishments.
Information
Arab Chamber
Market Intelligence Department
Phone: (11) 3147-2538
Email: rsolimeo@ccab.org.br
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
