A food safety assessment system was announced in Qatar, which helped ensure safe food for residents and prevent foodborne illnesses.
The Ministry of Public Health officially launched its Food Safety Rating Program for Food Facilities earlier this week.
The initiative aims to strengthen compliance with food safety regulations at various food facilities across the country. The program allows consumers to assess the extent to which the site complies with health regulations based on the results of the test.
Outlets can be divided into six categories: “urgent improvements are needed,” “large improvements need,” “necessary improvements,” “good,” “very good,” and “good.”
Emergency improvements are necessary, meaning facilities do not comply with food safety standards and immediate corrective action is required due to high levels of risk. Excellent means that the outlet is fully compliant with all standards.
The results are listed in the “watheq” electronic food safety system, allowing consumers to view them, but the facility can also display scores on-site.
A good review can be achieved by following best practices for food preparation, cleaning and disinfection, building maintenance, food storage, and general hygiene. Companies need to ensure that food handlers pass food safety tests.
The program consists of three phases, with the first two already in place, covering hotels and restaurants in tourist spots and shopping malls. The third phase will include all other facilities that provide food service directly to Qatari consumers, and implementation is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year. As of mid-February 2025, 1,284 food facilities have been evaluated under the program.
Food Safety Commitment
During the official launch, Wasan Abdullah Al Baker, director of the Department of Food Safety at the Ministry of Public Health, expressed his gratitude for his commitment to food safety, with a rating of “excellent” and “very good” We honored 51 facilities.
“The official launch of the Food Safety Rating Program for Food Facilities is a critical step to achieving the highest level of compliance with global health and safety standards, which contributes to improving food safety and public health protection in Qatar “I hope this classification system will encourage food facilities to continuously improve performance and adhere to food safety regulations,” she said.
The system is designed to promote transparency in the food safety sector by classifying outlets based on technical standards and requirements. The aim is to raise consumer awareness and strengthen confidence in food quality by providing information about the level of compliance.
The program requires each registered food facility to undergo at least three inspections and additional visits will be made to ensure compliance. The facility is usually inspected every 2-6 months. This system was developed using a risk-based testing approach with the help of international consultants.
If the food facility does not agree to its rating, it may file an appeal within 15 days of the inspection report being issued.
Qatar News Agency reported this week that politicians have approved a draft that establishes general authority on food safety in Qatar.
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