GCC Food Law

8/20/2019 GCC Food Law

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Innovation | Nutrition | Regulatory | Safety | Insight

GCC Food LawDr Linda Amirat, Senior Regulatory Advisor

30 April 2015


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www.leatherheadfood.com

2© Leatherhead Food Research

Outlook

• GCC member states• Role of Gulf Standardisation Organisation (GSO)

• Overview of Labelling requirements in GCC

• Overview of Food additives/flavourings in GCC

• Upcoming changes?


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Member states of GCC


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Authorities & role

1982: Higher Council of GCC

Gulf Standardisation Organisation (GSO)


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General labelling


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Labelling legislation

• GSO 9/2013 on Labelling of Pre-packaged

Foodstuffs

• GSO 150/2013 on Expiration Dates of Food

Products

• Part 1: Mandatory Expiration Dates

• Part 2: Voluntary Expiration Dates


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Labelling requirements??

• Product name

• List of ingredients

• Allergen declaration

• Net content

• Production & Expiry dates(Shelf life)

• Storage conditions

• Instruction of use

• Name & address

• Country of Origin

• Lot mark

• GM (if present)

• Irradiated food

• Nutrition labelling: Mandatory• Alcohol: Not permitted in food.

• Source of animal (Declare the

source of animal if the food item or

one of its components contain

animal components).

Language :ARABIC

Halal compliant


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Product name

Ref: Mintel


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Allergens

•Cereals containing gluten, wheat, barley, oats, rye spelt as such or their hybridised strains

and products of these.

•Crustacea and related products

•Eggs and egg products

•Fish and fish products

•Peanuts

•Soybeans and products thereof

•Walnuts and nut products

•Milk and milk products (lactose included)

•Sulphite in concentration of 10 ppm or more.

•Celery and their products

•Mustard and their products

•Sesame seeds and their products

•Clams and their products

•Lupine and products thereof

Must declare:

Contain: ىحتوي

or

may contain:

:

حتوي

ىقد


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Date marking

Expiry date (best before)

Ref: Mintel

Production date


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Net content

Volume: (200 ml) : ( 200م

) Ref: Mintel


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Storage/name and address

Ref: Mintel


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Irradiated food/GM food

Irradiated food: ”م ج ش ع

Food treated with ionising radiation

must be declared: treatment in close

proximity to the food name

•The use of the International Food

Irradiation Symbol is mandatory butwhen declared must be placed in in

close proximity to the food name

Declare:

Ingredient used in another food

Single ingredient product is

prepared from an irradiated raw

material

If GM food is present GMO >1% in any food

product it must be declared on the label.

[however, should be declared at any level]

Products containing GMO, label as follows:

Contains Genetically Modified Product(s)

" ث رو ةروحم ت نوكم ىلع يوح جنم“

Or

Product genetically modified: ” ث رو روحم جنم ”

Contrasting colour

from the label itself


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Use of Stickers….

Ref: Mintel


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Nutrition labelling

GSO 2233/2012 on Requirements of Nutritional Labelling.

Nutritional Information: Mandatory for all food except for raw products such as fresh

fruits, vegetables, meat and fish.

•Energy: kcal /100 g [or /100 ml] or per package if the package contains only a single

portion (*)

•Protein: g /100 g [or /100 ml] or per package if the package contains only a single

portion. Or % NRV. (*).

•Carbohydrate (excluding dietary fibre): g /100 g [or /100 ml] or per package if the

package contains only a single portion. (*)

•Fat: g /100 g [or /100 ml] or per package if the package contains only a single portion. (*)

•Sodium: [ National authorities may decide to express the total amount of sodium in salt

equivalents as "salt“].

• Vitamins and minerals: metric units and/or as a % of the Nutrient Reference Value

per 100 g or per 100 ml or per package if the package contains only a single portion (*)

(*): Information may be given per serving as quantified on the label or per portion provided

that the number of portions contained in the package is stated. [in countries where serving

sizes are normally used].


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• GSO CAC GL 1/2008 on General Guidelines on Claims. (Codex)• GSO 2333/2013 on Requirements for Nutrition and Health Claims

Nutrition & Health claims must be consistent and support national

health policy

Claims????

Coffee:

• For mental clarity and mood-altering

• Stimulates vitality

Chocolate:

• Helps you grow

• Aids digestion

Nutrition & Health claims


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ADDITIVES


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Legislation

• GS 23/1998: regulates the use of food colouring additives

• GS 356/1994: regulates the use of food preservatives

• GS 357/1994: regulates the use of antioxidants

• GS 381/1994: regulates the use of emulsifiers, stabilisers and

thickeners• GSO 995/1998: regulates sweeteners permitted for use in food

products…BUT

National Standard in Saudi Arabia only: SASO 1548/2011 onSweeteners. [NEW]

• GS 707/1996: regulates the use of flavourings.

No general single additives Gulf Standard available???


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Upcoming changes???

Harmonised Std on halal

requirements/specifications

adapted by the Muslim

world????


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Innovation | Nutrition | Regulatory | Safety | Insight

Thank you for your time

Dr Linda Amirat

[email protected]@gmail.com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

Documents

GCC Food Law