Doha: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has told all energy drink providers across Qatar to clearly display cautionary labels on energy drink packages to comply with standard specifications.
Cautionary labels should be clearly displayed in English and Arabic against a white background. The cautionary text should be written in a distinctive colour from the rest of the product data. Moreover, energy drinks should be separated from other products displayed on cooling shelves or in refrigerators.
Ministry officials have asked that energy drink providers display labels cautioning pregnant or nursing women, children under the age of 16, individuals with heart diseases and those allergic to caffeine as well as athletes (during exercise), against consuming energy drinks.
Providers who fail to comply with these regulations will be banned from the sale of energy drinks on the market as well as selling any energy drink products to any group that does not fulfill the advertised specifications.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce hopes that its efforts will lead to a reduction in consumer demand for energy drinks particularly among the youth and also encourage the consumption of natural healthy alternatives. Energy drinks have been proved to cause health problems according to reports released by competent authorities.
The campaign comes within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to ensure the compliance of stores and products with the consumer protection law with regard to the sale of products in accordance with standard specifications.
The ministry’s Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department had previously held several meetings with relevant representatives of energy drink providers to ensure the accurate display of cautionary labels.
The Ministry has urged consumers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through Hotline: 16001 or Email: info@mec.gov.qa
The Peninsula
