News & Insights

On March 20, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority notified the WTO, on behalf of member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Standardization Organization (GSO), of draft technical regulation Maximum Limits of Pesticide Residues in Agricultural and Food Products. This new consolidated draft standard updates and revises the GSO draft MRL standard published in late 2015.

Comments are due by May 19, 2017. All proposed MRLs are currently displaying in the Global MRL Database. 

On September 21, the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Standardization Organization notified the WTO of the final draft of a proposed standard for preserved tomatoes. The proposal includes a section on food additives. An initial draft of the proposed standard was previously published by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Comments on the final draft are due to the WTO by November 20, 2016.

The Gulf Cooperation Council's food additive regulations, in English, are included in the International Food Additive Database. If you are interested in subscribing, please contact BCI for more information.

Recently, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority posted a Gulf Cooperation Council draft food standard for preserved tomatoes. Included in this document is information on permitted food additives.

The Gulf Cooperation Council's food additive regulations, in English, are included in the International Food Additive Database.  If you are interested in subscribing, please contact BCI for more information.

Recently, the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Standardization Organization published a draft regulation regarding the use of flavorings in food. The proposal is available, in English, on the Saudi Food and Drug Authority's website. Comments on the proposed regulation are due to the GCC by July 11, 2016.

The Gulf Cooperation Council's food additive regulations, in English, are included in the International Food Additive Database.  If you are interested in subscribing, please contact BCI for more information.

BCI is pleased to announce that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) food additive regulations have been added to the Food Additive Database and are available to subscribers.

GCC member nations are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman.

The GCC recently adopted two new regulations:  Additives Permitted for Use in Food Stuffs (GSO 2500/2015) and Sweeteners Permitted in Food (GSO 995/2015). Superseding several previous regulations, these documents more closely align the GCC with Codex food additive standards. The GSO electronic publication of these standards is available for purchase from the GSO Standards Catalogue.

BCI's Food Additive Database includes maximum use level regulations for over 800 additives in more than 65 countries worldwide.  Please contact us for more information on subscribing.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) posted the Gulf Cooperation Council's GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) draft on Maximum Limits of Pesticide Residues in agricultural and Food Products (GSO 382,383 / 2015).

This consolidated draft amendment is proposed to replace the GCC's currently established MRL standard (GS 382,383 / 1994). The proposed MRLs and GCC's established MRLs currently display in the Global MRL Database.

On February 19, the Gulf Cooperation Council notified the WTO of a Draft Technical Regulation for "Modified Starches".  The GCC includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.  The document is available in Arabic, and comments are due April 19, 2016.

The GCC's food additive regulations, in English, are in the process of being added to the International Food Additive Database.  If you are interested in subscribing, please contact BCI for more information.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) recently posted the Gulf Cooperation Council's GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) draft on the maximum limits for residues of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) in food.

Comments are due to SFDA by April 21, 2016.

The State of Qatar recently notified the WTO of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) draft pesticide and contaminant MRLs allowed in organic food. The final date for comments is February 15, 2015.

The Sultanate of Oman recently notified the WTO of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) draft MRLs for veterinary drugs in food. The final date for comments is February 14, 2014.