Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has prepared an integrated monitoring plan to ensure food safety in the State of Qatar during the blessed month of Ramadan. This is part of its ongoing efforts to maintain food health and safety, promote public health, and protect consumers during the holy month as the demand for foodstuffs is increasing.
The plan is built on several key components, including the regulation of both imported and local food, the provision of food safety laboratory services, and the promotion of health awareness among consumers. It takes into account the unique characteristics of the fasting month, during which consumption patterns change and the demand for certain food items increases.
The Ministry has also initiated an awareness campaign to promote a culture of food safety among all parties in the food chain, including consumers and food establishments. This campaign features awareness messages shared through social media to increase understanding of food safety rules and prevent foodborne diseases.
This month of February, the Ministry of Public Health reported that a total of 8,914,053 tons of foodstuffs were imported.
Out of this amount, 6,969,738 tons were released after confirming their compliance with the necessary requirements.
However, 52,550 tons were rejected, and 8,739 tons were destroyed due to violations of the relevant technical regulations and standards.
The number of food inspectors at land, sea, and air ports has been increased to enhance the effectiveness of the inspection schedule.
This adjustment addresses the rise in food consignments received in the State of Qatar during this period. Health units at the ports operate around the clock in shifts to ensure a smooth and efficient monitoring process, facilitating the flow of goods to meet market needs.
As for local control, The Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health has enhanced its control and inspection efforts regarding food safety during the month of Ramadan. They are focusing on food products, circulation points, and handlers to ensure the safety of what is handled, marketed, and consumed.
Food safety monitoring has also been intensified at establishments most frequented by consumers, such as consumer associations, hypermarkets, and popular kitchens. In February, a total of 1,915 inspection visits were conducted, resulting in the withdrawal of 1,352 food samples for testing.
This month, over 80 popular kitchens were visited, focusing on those that provide Iftar tables and Ramadan tents. The Ministry of Public Health organised an awareness workshop attended by 150 officials from these kitchens.
The goal was to enhance their understanding of health requirements related to food handling at all stages, including preparation, storage, transportation, and receipt. The workshop also covered essential topics such as general and personal hygiene, as well as health practices within food establishments, to ensure the safety of food products.
To ensure food safety and compliance with standards and regulations, samples of food products are collected from local food outlets and establishments for examination at the Food Safety Laboratory of the Ministry of Public Health.
During the blessed month, the laboratory operates in three shifts, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in order to increase its capacity in response to intensified control procedures, as currently this month, the laboratory has received a total of 3,297 food samples and conducted 31776 laboratory tests on them.
