Industry and Commerce Ministry assures parents all children’s products undergo strict screening

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Parents worried about what is in their children’s food have been told that Bahrain already screens products and will ban any ingredient linked by scientific studies to harmful effects, the Industry and Commerce Ministry has said in a reply to the Shura Council.

In a written answer to member Ejlal Bubshait, Industry and Commerce Minister, His Excellency Abdulla Fakhro, said food on sale in the Kingdom is checked against national, GCC and international standards.

He added that these rules are updated when new evidence emerges on additives that may affect children’s health or behaviour.

Ingredients

Boubshait’s question centred on ingredients linked to hyperactivity and poor concentration in children and teenagers.

H.E. Fakhro said the National Standards Body, represented by the Inspection and Metrology Directorate at the ministry, is responsible for drawing up and adopting standards and technical regulations for various sectors, including food and agriculture.

Local technical committees work alongside Gulf, regional and international groups, and their recommendations go to the National Standards and Metrology Committee under the Standards and Metrology Law. Decisions are then published on a regular basis in the Official Gazette.

He described food as one of the key areas covered by this system.

Proposals

A Local Food Standards Committee, drawn from the concerned authorities and specialists, prepares and submits proposals to adopt international food standards in line with rapid changes in the industry and related research.

These rules cover compulsory requirements on food safety and handling, together with conditions for packaging, storage and transport.

Once standards are in place, H.E. Fakhro said, the task of checking that products comply lies with the relevant watchdog bodies before goods reach the domestic market.

Each body works within its own field, including in relation to the substances named by Ms Bubshait in her enquiry. The ministry also works with the Public Health Directorate at the Health Ministry to keep food products safe.

Standards

The health side checks that locally produced and imported food meets approved national, GCC and international standards, makes sure food businesses in Bahrain follow the required hygiene and safety rules, and carries out inspection visits to confirm that those rules and related regulations are being applied.

On future plans to regulate or ban substances linked by studies to negative effects on health or behaviour, H.E. Fakhro said the Inspection and Metrology Directorate plays an active part in food and agricultural standards committees that monitor notices and research on additives and ingredients that might have such impacts.

These materials are assessed with the help of partner bodies and, based on risk assessments, the ministry proposes decisions to limit or prohibit their use.

He said such steps are taken with the relevant regulatory agencies to ensure any bans are applied and that compliance in local markets is watched.