Ministry of Health authorizes 11 entities to verify conformity of food shipments to Qatar

Published: 18 March 2025

NT Bureau

DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health has updated its list of third-party accredited entities in the field of food and food establishment inspection, accrediting 11 entities which will be responsible for verifying the conformity of food shipments intended for export to Qatar, Al Sharq reports.

Authorizing a third party to analyze or inspect at any stage of food handling has become an international practice aimed at enhancing food safety levels through more effective methods than traditional methods, the report adds.

Companies authorized to verify the conformity of food shipments intended for export must verify that the food facility involved in manufacturing, storage, packaging, and preparation have been officially licensed in its country of origin to practice its activity and will be subject to periodic monitoring by the authorized entity.

They must also verify that the food facility applies a food safety management system to guarantee their quality and purity.

These entities must verify that shipments of meat or food containing components of animal origin are accompanied by halal certificates or halal slaughter certificates issued by Islamic bodies accredited in the State of Qatar, supervising the means of transportation and verifying that it meets the requirements.

Issuing of conformity certificates by accredited agencies has advantages, including: reducing the possibility of shipments being rejected at the port of entry, especially for high-risk foods; reducing the level of risk in monitoring imported foods accompanied by a conformity certificate; and expediting their final release from the port of entry.

The authorized entity bears full technical responsibility for its technical work. Therefore, any proven inaccuracy or inaccuracy of any certificates, reports, or other matters exposes the entity to the cancellation of the license or permit from the date of notification.

Certificates are issued before the actual export to the State of Qatar, not after the export.

It is worth noting that the Food Safety Department implemented this approach in phases starting at the end of 2022. After evaluating the experience, the department found it feasible to expand and adopt this approach as one of the modern methods that enhance food safety goals in Qatar, Al Sharq report said.